The husband of an Illinois state senator exchanged gunfire with carjackers who were trying to steal her Mercedes-Benz SUV, according to a police report.
The report from Broadview police gives more information about the carjacking of Lightford and her husband. Three suspects remain at large, and no one was hurt in the exchange of gunfire.
Broadview police responded to multiple calls for shots fired. The report was obtained through an open-records request and shows that officers went to the carjacking site in the 2000 block of South 20th Avenue. Lightford was involved in the incident after 10 to 15 shots were reported, according to the report.
The report states that officers arrived at the scene and took possession of the gun. The officers were shown his valid firearm owner's identification card and concealed carry license.
One of the officers was told the following account by McKennie.
He, Lightford and a friend were in the senator's car, heading west on Roosevelt Road, then turning right onto 20th Avenue to drop off the friend.
The Mercedes was in front of the Dodge SUV. Lightford was told to run by three people with guns.
The keys were thrown into the street and the Mercedes was backed away from. That was when the gunfire started.
According to the report, McKennie responded by protecting himself and firing his weapon at the subject, who was firing at the vehicle.
According to the report, McKinney ran south down 20th Avenue after firing a few rounds and found cover next to a house. The report did not say how many rounds were fired.
According to the report, McKinley could not say if he hit any carjackers or the vehicle.
Lightford said her purse and phone were in the car. The attempt to track the phone was unsuccessful.
Comprehensive descriptions of the carjackers weren't available, though one was wearing a face mask Police said the carjackers escaped in the Mercedes and the vehicle they pulled up in.
The car that the Senate majority leader leased was later found by police two blocks south of the Eisenhower Expressway on Chicago's West Side.
Broadview police went door to door and found Ring camera doorbells. The report doesn't say what the video footage showed, but police found at least one resident who might have had some.
Lightford's car was identified as a loaner from the Westmont Mercedes Dealer. The report shows that the Mercedes had Senate-issued license plates.
At an event two days later, Lightford, a Maywood Democrat who has been in the state legislature since 1998, said she didn't realize what a traumatic event could do in an adult.
Broadview police Chief Thomas Mills has said that the carjacking occurred about 30 minutes after the Christmas event.
jgorner is a reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
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