Retired Chicago firefighter, 65, is shot dead while trying to stop armed thieves from stealing his Jeep in a brazen afternoon carjacking outside a popcorn shop
A retired firefighter has been shot dead while trying to stop a gang of armed carjackers from taking his vehicle in a brazen daylight robbery.
Dwain Williams, 65, was outside of the Let's Get Poppin' popcorn shop in Chicago's Morgan Park on Thursday afternoon, shortly after 2pm.
Four carjackers in a dark-colored four-door sedan demanded Williams hand over his Jeep Grand Cherokee.
After confronting them, Williams was shot in the abdomen by one of the carjackers.
Fox News reports Williams returned shots with his own firearm, though it's unclear if he hit any of his assailants.
Lt. Dwain Williams, 65, died on Thursday when he was the victim of an attempted carjacking
The attempted carjacking happened outside of Let's Get Poppin' in Morgan Park
The carjackers demanded Williams hand over his Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Williams was taken to Christ Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
The attackers fled and remain at-large. No arrests have been made.
'I can tell you he was a hero,' said Morgan Park alderman Matt O'Shea told Fox News. 'He spent his entire career working hard as a first responder for our great city. What a tremendous loss.'
Retired firefighter William Marshall told ABC 7 that Williams' family was informed of the incident as Williams' wife was attempting to get in touch with him.
'She tried to call him and at that moment, that's when the reporting officers came up,' Marshall said. 'It is terrible. I still can't believe that this is going on at this moment.'
Members of the Chicago Fire Department and Chicago Police Department honored Williams as his body arrived at the medical examiner's office Thursday night
First responders formed a guard of honor on the street to pay their respect to Lt. Williams after word of his passing spread
It's not clear if Williams struck any of his assailants when he returned fire on them. A gun (pictured) was seen lying in the street after the attack
Williams was a member of the Chicago Fire Department from 1992 to 2018, retiring as a lieutenant at the age of 63.
According to ABC 7, Williams' last role with the CFD was as a member of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
Members of the Chicago Fire Department and Chicago Police Department lined the streets to honor Williams as his body arrived at the medical examiner's office Thursday night.
Four people got out of a dark-colored sedan and demanded Williams' Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Chicago Fire Department mourned the loss of Lt. Williams on social media
'Everyone at OEMC is deeply saddened by the loss of Lt. Dwain Williams and we send our sincere condolences to his family and the Chicago Fire Department,' the OEMC said in a statement.
'He was a fixture at the OEMC in the Operations Center and was a considered dear friend by many of us. Those who knew him thought the world of him. His contributions to the OEMC, the Fire Department and the City of Chicago will not be forgotten.'
Williams leaves behind a wife and four children.
'His wife, she just wants her husband,' community activist Andrew Holmes told the Chicago Sun-Times. 'That was her soul mate for over 30 years.'
Amid another turbulent year of violence in Chicago, carjackings have seen a particular increase.
ABC 7 reports there have been at least 1,234 carjackings in the city this year, marking a 134% increase from last year and putting the city on pace for their most carjackings in 18 years.
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