West suburban man shot in road-rage case

Cook County Sheriff officials said no one is in custody yet after a road rage shooting took place near Lemont Monday.

However, Cook County sheriff spokesman Frank Bilecki said numerous tips have been generated after a sketch of the suspect involved in the shooting was released Tuesday evening.

He could not say how many tips were generated from the public, but said sheriff deputies are tracking all of them down.

“We are chasing down all the leads turned in yesterday,” he said. “We'd like to thank the public for all the tips we have received.”

A West suburban man in his 50s who mistakenly cut off someone Monday morning quickly pulled over to apologize but was shot in the abdomen by the angry driver, according to police.

The victim was eastbound on 107th Street in Lemont near 104th Avenue and noticed a gray or silver four-door pickup trailing him after he cut off the driver, police said.

When the victim stopped his Buick Lacrosse to apologize about 10:30 a.m., the other driver walked up to the passenger's-side window and fired a single bullet into the man's abdomen, Bilecki said.

The West suburban man immediately hit the gas to escape and pressed his vehicle's OnStar button, which connected him with the police, Bilecki said.

A dispatcher was speaking with the victim through the OnStar, but the man passed out during the conversation, according to police.

“He hit the OnStar button, which was a tremendous help to figure out exactly where he was,” Bilecki said.

The shooter fled, but the victim was able to get a good look at him before speeding off. He was described as a white man between 20 and 30 who possibly had an olive complexion.

The victim was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Brook, where he is stable, according to police.

“He's doing good. He helped throughout the day with the sketch,” Bilecki said.

Police are withholding the victim's hometown for fear of retaliation by the shooter.

“The family is very, very concerned for his safety,” Bilecki said.

Anyone with information or who recognizes the shooter is asked to call Cook County sheriff's police at (312) 635-1188.