Oak Lawn sergeant has God and Kevlar to thank for surviving shootout, police say

The off-duty Oak Lawn police sergeant who was shot multiple times at an Oak Lawn business midday Monday has God and his Kevlar vest to thank for surviving the incident, the department said in a statement.

The off-duty Oak Lawn police sergeant who received two gunshot wounds Monday during a shootout at an Oak Lawn business has God and his Kevlar vest to thank for surviving the incident, the department said in a statement.

The sergeant, whose identity and health status were not released, was working at his second job as a security guard for a private business in the 10800 block of South Central Avenue when he was involved in a shootout with an armed employee.

The Oak Lawn Police Department announced Tuesday the employee, 35-year-old Khambrel Lee, of Lauderhill, Florida, was charged with attempted murder.

Lee, who works as a truck driver for MN89 Inc., arrived at the company’s office shortly before noon Monday, prosecutors said Wednesday at Lee’s detention. He got out of his truck and began having a dispute with another employee over his pay, the prosecutor said, citing witnesses and video footage.

That’s when the off-duty sergeant and second security guard tried to de-escalate the argument, eventually getting Lee back to his truck, the prosecutor said. Lee remained unhappy and eventually pulled out his firearm and began shooting at the sergeant.

One bullet struck the sergeant in the thigh, another grazed his face and two more rounds appeared to be stopped by his bulletproof Kevlar vest, the prosecutor said.

During the shootout, Lee’s gun jammed which caused him to resort to striking the sergeant in the back of the head with the gun, causing more injuries, the prosecutor said. But the wounded sergeant, with the help of bystanders and the other security guard, were able to wrestle the gun from Lee and hold him down.

Lee admitted to the attack and “alluded to the fact that God and his gun jamming are the only reasons our sergeant was not shot in the head,” the department stated in a news release.

Lee was ordered detained in the Cook County Jail while the case is pending, with the judge citing his alleged violent behavior and that he does not live in Illinois. Lee is to appear again in court April 2.

Lee purchased the Springfield Armory .45 caliber gun he used in the shootout legally in Florida, police said. The gun will be sent to the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms for ballistics and an inquiry to determine if it was used in any other crimes, police said.

Lee was also found in possession of two more magazines loaded with 13 rounds each at the time of his arrest, police said.

Police did not provide more information about the sergeant’s condition as of midday Wednesday.

“Our sergeant is indeed still here with us today by the grace of God, a Kevlar vest and the bravery of his actions, never backing down even after being shot and the bravery of the other security guard,” the department said in the news release. “Together they confronted an armed, violent individual and ultimately prevented further violence to innocent people.”

Oak Lawn Village President Terry Vorderer and police Chief Daniel Vittorio declined to give more information about the shooting at Tuesday night’s Village Board meeting.

hsanders@chicagotribune.com