Catholic priest shot, wounded in run-in with would-be catalytic converter thieves in Little Italy

A Jesuit priest was shot at Monday morning outside his home in Little Italy, suffering a graze wound in the encounter with two would-be catalytic converter thieves.

The Rev. Jeremiah Lynch, 73, was in his home about 6 a.m. in the 1000 block of West Taylor Street when he heard noises coming from a nearby parking lot. When he opened the door to check on what was happening, he saw two males attempting to steal a catalytic converter from a parked car.

Lynch asked the males what they were doing, and one of them pulled out a gun and fired three shots at him before fleeing, Chicago police and a spokesperson for St. Ignatius College Prep said.

Lynch, who is a priest at Cook County Jail, suffered a graze wound on the forehead but said he was otherwise OK.

"I'm praying for the person who shot at me," Lynch told the Chicago Sun-Times.

Two of the shots struck the building where Lynch and 14 other priests live. The building is owned by St. Ignatius, and the residents work elsewhere.

In a message sent to students and parents, St. Ignatius officials reminded students to stay vigilant, and if they encounter something similar to call 911 and not approach anyone involved.

No one is in custody.