Chicago Police Officer John J Gorman accused in off-duty shooting said he feared for life

An off-duty Chicago Police officer accused of shooting at a truck a Merrionette Park police officer and his friend were in testified Monday that he had only fired warning shots in the air because he was in fear for his life as the large vehicle came barreling toward him and his partner.

“I had no idea who he was or why he was pursuing us,” John Gorman said of the motorist who he said had earlier tried to cut him on the Southwest Side on Nov. 23, 2014.

“I didn’t know if he was someone I had previously arrested or he was trying to carjack us.”

Gorman said the passenger in the truck later pounded on his window and swore at him while he was stopped in traffic.

Gorman’s partner, Timothy Neylon, also said he was frightened as the incident, which appeared to be “road rage,” came to a head near the 22nd District police station where the two worked.

Gorman, who is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm and aggravated assault, said he got out of his tan Buick and shot in the air five times to scare off the occupants of the Ford F-250.

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