A man with a concealed carry permit in Chicago foiled an alleged armed robbery attempt on the afternoon of Saturday, December 23, using his concealed carry handgun to shoot and kill one of the suspected robbers and stop the robbery.
The incident apparently occurred just before 5 pm on that Saturday, happening in an alley around the 1700 block of Chicago’s West Cortez street. The individual who was shot during the altercation was a 19-year-old male. He was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his chest, but was pronounced dead upon arrival at the facility.
The Chicago Police Department, in a statement to the media on the incident and young male’s death, said, “a 19-year-old male victim was in the alley when he sustained a gunshot wound to the chest by an unknown offender. The victim was transported to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced. Area Three Detectives are investigating.”
However, according to CWB Chicago, it was no “unknown offender,” but rather a 68-year-old man with a concealed carry permit who was able to foil the robbery by using his legally carried handgun. The individual who was shot had apparently celebrated his 19th birthday late in December of 2023, and was attempting an armed robbery along three other people when shot. The concealed carry holder remained on the scene to cooperate with police after the incident.
A similar report came from Spot News on X, an account that uses information gleaned from police scanners to give updates on crime. It said, “on background, the dead 19yo offender and his buddies attempted to rob a man who happened to be a sexagenarian and a CCL holder. he wasn’t going.”
Though generally regarded as being less friendly toward firearms and self-defense than red state locales, the use of deadly force is allowed in Chicago when using it is reasonably necessary to prevent either imminent death or great bodily harm to yourself or another person, or a forcible felong, such as sexual assault, robbery, murder, or arson.
In Illinois, a concealed carry license is required for carrying a concealed weapon, unlike in “constitutional carry” states where no permit is needed. The requirements for a permit are quite strict, requiring the individual be at least 21 years old, have a currently valid Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) Card and, at the time of application, meet the requirements for the issuance of a FOID Card, and not be prohibited under Illinois or federal law from possessing a firearm. The individual must also not have been convicted or found guilty in Illinois or any other state of a misdemeanor involving the use or threat of force within five years of application or two DUI violations. Further, the individual must not be the subject of any pending warrant, prosecution, or other proceeding that would lead to disqualification from owning a firearm.
Further, the potential concealed carry holder must not have been in residential or court-ordered treatment for alcoholism or drugs within five years of application and have completed the required firearms training program.
"*" indicates required fields