Off-Duty Cop Shot, Killed Working Security at West Side Convenience Store

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 30, 2011 3:00PM

The Chicago Police Department is mourning one of their own this morning after an off duty cop who was working security at a West side convenience store was shot and killed during a robbery.

Clifton Lewis, 41, was working at the M & M Quick Foods in the Austin neighborhood last night when two men entered the store, shot Lewis several times with what witnesses say was a "machine-type" pistol, and took Lewis's gun and badge. A man who lives near the convenience store said that Lewis was hired to do security after the store suffered a robbery three weeks ago. Other residents told the Tribune and Sun-Times said the neighborhood, which is near Oak Park, is normally quiet.

Lewis was a tactical officer at the Austin District police station and an eight-year veteran of the Police Department. He was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Lewis's family was joined by around 200 police officers at the hospital.

One witness described the shooter as "light-skinned" with "gang tattoos on his face." Lewis's death is the first violent death of a Chicago Police officer since Michael Flisk was shot and killed investigating a break-in of a car last November on the Southeast side.