Chicago Police Officer Faces Felony Charges in Off-Duty Shooting

Video: Surveillance footage released last month by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability shows the Dec. 11, 2020 confrontation (beginning around 11 minute mark).

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An off-duty Chicago police officer claimed he heard gunshots before he opened fire on two unarmed men inside a vehicle late last year, but Cook County prosecutors say surveillance video contradicts his version of events.

Kevin Bunge, 39, faces felony charges including aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm after he allegedly fired shots at two men on West Irving Park Road on Dec. 11, 2020.

According to prosecutors, Bunge was driving home after teaching at the Chicago Police Academy when he pulled over on the side of the road and began listening to an audio book.

While there, two men — Jomner Orozco and Carlos Ramirez — pulled up behind Bunge’s vehicle in a red car. According to a lawsuit Orozco and Ramirez filed last month, they were traveling to see a friend and had pulled over to ensure their GPS directions were leading them the right way.

Bunge claimed he then heard gunshots, according to prosecutors, and exited his vehicle in a “tactical position” with his gun drawn and pointed toward the ground. He then approached Orozco and Ramirez and allegedly fired a round through the driver's side window of that car, striking Orozco’s right hand.

As the men attempted to flee in reverse, Bunge allegedly fired a second round that hit the vehicle's fender. Orozco and Ramirez drove to a nearby 7-Eleven and called 911 to report the shooting, prosecutors said.

Responding officers saw two bullet holes on the vehicle and Orozco was taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital to be treated for his injury. Meanwhile, Bunge drove to his home and then called 911 to report the shooting.

According to prosecutors, Bunge told police that he had heard gunfire and saw someone point a weapon at him as they got into the red car.

However, during the subsequent investigation, officers recovered surveillance footage from a nearby business that captured the incident. Prosecutors said that footage “contradicts (Bunge’s) version of events.”

According to their lawsuit, Orozco suffered a “significant physical injury” to two fingers on his right hand, while Ramirez was hit in the face by shattered glass and suffered hearing loss due to the gunshots.

“The unconstitutional actions of Defendant Bunge were the direct and proximate cause of Plaintiffs’ physical injuries, pain and suffering, mental anguish and humiliation, and loss of personal freedom,” attorneys with the People’s Law Group representing Orozco and Ramirez wrote in the lawsuit.

Bunge faces between six and 30 years in prison if convicted on the aggravated battery charge and up to 15 years in prison on the aggravated discharge of a firearm charge.

He was reportedly held on $10,000 bail Wednesday, meaning he had to post $1,000 to be released from the Cook County Jail. As of Thursday morning, it appears he is no longer being held in the jail.

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson[email protected] | (773) 509-5431


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