Armed Robbers Fire Shots at Off-Duty Corrections Officer in West Loop

CHICAGO — In a shocking incident in the West Loop, two armed men attempted to rob an off-duty corrections officer. Both assailants fired shots at the victim before he retaliated, seriously injuring one of them, authorities revealed on Tuesday.

Desmond White, 32, who is currently on parole, is recovering in the hospital after sustaining at least five gunshot wounds during the altercation early Sunday.

CWBChicago readers may recall White from a previous case where he was involved in a forgery scheme that allowed individuals on electronic monitoring for felony cases to falsely obtain permission to leave their homes for non-existent jobs.

Regarding the recent robbery attempt, White and an accomplice confronted a 23-year-old Cook County correctional officer at around 1:41 a.m., demanding his watch and other valuables at gunpoint.

The victim identified himself as a peace officer before both robbers fired shots at him during the incident. Fortunately, the officer escaped unharmed.

Following the altercation, the officer drew his weapon and fired at the robbers as they fled the scene. White later arrived at Rush Hospital in an Uber, seeking treatment for his multiple gunshot wounds.

White is facing charges of attempted murder of a peace officer, attempted armed robbery with a firearm, and Class X armed habitual criminal. Prosecutors have requested his detention pending trial, which will be considered by a judge once White is discharged from the hospital. Judge William Fahy has ordered White to remain in custody until the hearing.

White had been on parole since December after serving half of concurrent four-year sentences for possession of a weapon or body armor by a felon and forgery, according to Illinois Department of Corrections records.

In 2022, White was implicated in a forgery operation that involved using fake work documents to obtain permission for travel while on electronic monitoring for pending felonies. The operation was run by former City Colleges of Chicago basketball coach Edmond Pryor.

Investigations revealed that White submitted false documentation to the sheriff’s office in 2019 to secure permission to work as a delivery driver for UPS, a job he never held. Phone records indicated frequent communication between White and Pryor whenever White interacted with the sheriff’s EM staff.

In addition to his current charges, White has prior convictions for federal narcotics offenses in 2019 and state felony drug charges in 2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018, prosecutors stated.

The case underscores the dangers faced by law enforcement officers both on and off duty and highlights the ongoing challenges in combating criminal activities in the city.