Off-Duty Officer Gunned Down in Chicago

Sad story out of Chicago. Thomas Wortham, a Chicago police officer, was killed in front of his parents' home during an attempted robbery

Officer Thomas Wortham IV and his father, a retired Chicago police sergeant, exchanged gunfire with the robbers, sources said. One of the robbers was killed and another was critically wounded, authorities said. The two others fled in a maroon Nissan Maxima. The car was recovered but police were still searching for the suspects this morning, police said.

Wortham's father watched from the door as Wortham left and got on his bike about 11:25 p.m., the alderman said.

The father saw at least two men get out of the Nissan and try to steal the motorcycle, according to Lyle and police.

The father grabbed his gun and came to his son's aid, sources said. In the exchange of gunfire, Wortham was shot several times and two of the suspects were wounded, authorities said. Retired police officers are allowed to keep guns, officials said.

The two other robbers fled in the Nissan Maxima onto the Dan Ryan Expressway and headed north, police said.

"This is a tragedy. This young man survived two tours in Iraq, and came home and got murdered on the streets in front of his house that he grew up in," said Lyle, who has known the officer and his family for years. "In front of his father, it's just unbelieveable."

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