Retired Chicago cop shot while trying to stop a carjacking of a neighbor in Austin neighborhood

A retired 78-year-old Chicago police officer was shot early Wednesday while trying to stop a carjacking in the Austin neighborhood, Chicago police said.

Around 1:45 a.m., the retired officer saw his neighbor getting carjacked in the 300 block of North Mayfield Avenue. When the carjacker began firing at his neighbor he exchanged gunfire with the offender, police said.

At some point, the carjacker fled north on Mayfield in the neighbor’s black Jeep, and crashed into a parked car in the 600 block of North Waller Avenue. A weapon was recovered from the original scene.

The retired officer suffered a graze wound to the thumb and was taken to a hospital where he was listed in good condition. The neighbor, 52, was not injured.

Detectives are investigating.