Florida Man With Violent Past Charged With Shooting Oak Lawn Cop: OLPD

OAK LAWN, IL — A 35-year-old Florida man with a violent past has been charged with shooting an off-duty police officer Tuesday at a trucking company in Oak Lawn, police said. Khambrel Lee, of Lauderhill, Fla., is facing a felony charge of attempted first-degree murder.

On Monday, the off-duty Oak Lawn police sergeant was working security for a private firm, MN89 in the 10800 block of South Central Avenue. Just after 12 noon Monday, the sergeant and a second security officer intervened in a verbal dispute between Lee and other employees that escalated into a violent, armed confrontation, police said.

During the attack, police said Lee shot the off-duty sergeant numerous times who was saved by his Kevlar vest. The sergeant did suffer a gunshot wound to his leg, but was able to apply a tourniquet to his leg. Despite his leg injury, the sergeant and the other security guard were able to retrain Lee, who police said stopped shooting when his gun jammed.

>>> 'Disgruntled Employee' Arrested After Shooting Oak Lawn Cop: Police

Lee was said to be armed with a .45 caliber Springfield Armory XD45 that police later determined had been purchased legally by Lee in Florida. The gun will be sent to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to find out if it has been used in any other crimes.

In addition, police said Lee had two magazines loaded with thirteen rounds each at the time of his arrest,

Lee was forthcoming in an interview with detectives as to what led to the attack on the off-duty OLPD sergeant, police said. Lee alluded to detectives that God and his jamming were the only reasons the sergeant wasn’t shot in the head.

Oak Lawn police detectives have spent hours reviewing video, interviewing witnesses, executive search warrants and examining other evidence tied to the shooting. On Tuesday, the Cook County State’s Attorney office approved felony charges of attempted first-degree murder.

Lee has a prior history of arrests in the state of Florida. Those charges include arrests for domestic violence, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and a host of drug related charges, police said.

“Our sergeant is indeed still here with us today by the grace of God, a Kevlar vest and the bravery of his actions, never backing down even after being shot and the bravery of the other security guard,” Oak Lawn police said in a written statement. “Together they confronted an armed, violent individual and ultimately prevented further violence to innocent people.”

Lee is set for a detention hearingWednesday in room 103 at 1:30 p.m. at the Bridgeview Courthouse.