CICERO, Ill. — A suburban firefighter saved an elderly couple from a carjacker Thursday.

Around 10 a.m. Thursday, Joey Matthews, who works out of the station at South Central Ave in Cicero, saw an elderly couple being carjacked and jumped into action.

Matthews was in his engine with his co-workers, heading to the Aldi near Cermak and Cicero, when he saw a carjacking in progress.

“I jumped out of the rig and started running towards the car,” he said. “And as soon as I did, the gentleman jumped out of the car and started booking it for the alley.”

Matthews said he saw smoke and smelled gun powder. He believes the suspect could have fired a round as the engine pulled up.

The suspect ran through yards, and Matthews lost sight of him.

Matthews knows how dangerous a situation like this can be. When he was 4 years old, his dad, Chicago Police Officer John Matthews, was killed in the line of duty.  He was beaten to death by a mob in the Hegewisch neighborhood on the Southeast Side.

Regarding his actions on Thursday, Matthews said his dad would “think I was an idiot for chasing a guy with a gun while I’m not armed. That’s what he would be thinking right now. … I’m sure he’s also proud of everything all his kids are doing.”

Matthews said Cicero police responded very quickly but the suspect got away.

Matthews said the couple was not hurt and he is very thankful they did not lose their car.