CALUMET CITY | A man identified by Calumet City police as a Cook County corrections officer shot himself early Friday following a hit-and-run automobile crash that left a woman with a "substantial head injury."
Johnny E. Jones II, 51, of the 1500 block of Wentworth Avenue, Calumet City, shot himself under his jaw just before 1:30 a.m., Calumet City Police Chief Edward L. Gilmore said.
Jones is in critical, but stable condition at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
The Times previously quoted Gilmore saying Jones died of his wounds, but Gilmore later learned Jones still was alive. Police are investigating the case and have not released the identity of the woman who suffered a head injury.
Jones has worked as a corrections officer for the county for 25 years, sheriff's spokeswoman Liane Jackson said. Most recently he was assigned to the Inmate Transportation Department.
Gilmore said Jones drives a bus that transported prisoners for the Cook County Sheriff's Department.
Jones was taken to Franciscan St. Margaret Health in Hammond before he was airlifted to Christ hospital.
The incident began shortly after midnight when Jones hit another vehicle that was stalled on River Oaks Drive near the Value City Furniture store at 2100 159th St., Gilmore said.
Jones rear-ended the other vehicle, then drove off without making any attempt to notify police of the crash, police said. The woman who was driving the other vehicle suffered a "substantial head injury" and was taken to Franciscan St. Margaret Health for treatment, Gilmore said.
Her condition was not known, although Calumet City police Lt. Tim Murphy said police believe she is expected to survive her injuries.
Jones' car sustained serious damage, and made it to the area near Stewart and Stony Island avenues when it finally stalled, Gilmore said. At that point, Jones used his cellphone to call Calumet City police, who say they received a call at 1:15 a.m. of a man threatening to commit suicide.
When Gilmore arrived at the scene, he saw Jones locked in his car and threatening to shoot himself, while officers tried to talk Jones into putting away his pistol. At one point, Jones' sister arrived to try to talk to him and calm him down.
Jones pulled out his pistol, held it under his chin and pulled the trigger, but the weapon did not fire, Gilmore said.
A few minutes later, Jones pulled the trigger again, firing the weapon, and then stepped out of his car with his hands in the air to surrender.
Police realized at that point he had shot himself, and they then took him to the hospital.
Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/illinois/calumet-city/article_ceb933ef-8338-569e-9e44-68aa320d7fcf.html#ixzz1WKJB2Y84
