Father killed by off-duty cop who ran over his daughter

An off-duty police officer was riding his motorcycle down First Avenue in the Maywood section of Chicago Saturday night when he crashed into a 4-year-old girl who was trying to cross the road with her older cousin. The 43-year-old officer then shot and killed her father in an altercation that followed, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Taniyah Middleton and her 18-year-old cousin were crossing First Avenue at the same time an unnamed off-duty officer was riding his motorcycle on that road. Approaching the pair, the officer allegedly did not see them until it was too late, and in an effort to avoid them, jumped off his motorcycle. The motorcycle then skidded into the little girl.

Hearing all the commotion, the girl’s father, 26-year-old Christopher Middleton, ran outside their home. Immediately after he realized what happened, Middleton allegedly started attacking the officer, and at some point during the confrontation, the officer was able to reach for his gun and shot the girl’s father in the groin.

Christopher Middleton was pronounced dead at the hospital, while his daughter is being treated for her injuries.

A relative told local Chicago station WLS, “Her face was skinned…she’s in a lot of pain right now.”

Authorities say that the 8-year police veteran reportedly identified himself as a cop immediately following the crash, but according to WLS, that is in dispute.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.