A motorist was shot Saturday night near the Evergreen Park-Oak Lawn border shortly after reportedly leaving a Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant that has for years been plagued by fights and disorderly behavior, authorities said.

Within minutes of the shooting, which occurred around 9 p.m., Evergreen Park police responded to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where a victim reported that he had been shot in the area of 95th and South Pulaski Road, according to an Evergreen Park Police Department news release.

The victim, a Chicago resident, told police he had just left the Chuck E. Cheese's restaurant, 4031 W. 95th St. in Oak Lawn, and was driving east on 95th near Springfield Avenue in Evergreen Park when a person in a black Jeep-like vehicle also traveling east fired shots at him, according to the release.

The wounded motorist, who was able to drive himself to the nearby hospital, was treated for injuries to his lip and lower back, and released, police said. The car's three passengers, two of whom were juveniles, were not hurt, Evergreen Park police Capt. Peter Donovan said.

The victim would not comment further on the incident to police and said he would not sign a criminal complaint.

Evergreen Park and Oak Lawn police are investigating the incident.

Since 2011, Oak Lawn police have responded to more than 300 calls and made more than two dozen arrests at the 95th Street restaurant, mostly for battery and disorderly conduct, according to village data.

Village trustees had considered taking disciplinary action against the business following a violent incident inside the restaurant this August, but instead decided — after meeting with company executives who promised additional safety enhancements — to form a committee composed of village officials and residents to monitor developments over the next six to eight months before making any decisions.

Saturday's shooting, which occurred before the newly formed advisory committee had met, apparently is accelerating the trustees' timetable to consider action.

Trustee Terry Vorderer, a former Oak Lawn Police patrol chief who represents the district where the restaurant is located, said Monday that the village board would hold a special meeting Wednesday night to consider initiating the revocation of the business' license.

“I don't know how to resolve their problems,” he said. “But I do know their problems are affecting the security and safety of my community, so I can only take this measure to resolve it.”

Vorderer said he asked Mayor Sandra Bury to call the special meeting after confirming with police Monday that the victim had indeed left Chuck E. Cheese's moments before his car was fired upon.

He said he would make a motion at Wednesday's meeting to initiate the revocation process, and hopes other trustees would support him to that end.

An identical motion failed by a 3-2 vote in October, when Vorderer declined to support it, saying, “Personally, I don't think (the problems) are going to end, but I feel it's fairer to give this company a fair shot at it.”

CEC Entertainment, the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese's, released a statement Monday in which it acknowledged the shooting and said it was cooperating with police in their investigation, but denied the restaurant had any connection to the violent incident.

“We are aware of the shooting that took place Saturday evening in the Evergreen Park community, several blocks away from our establishment,” the company's statement reads. “We have confirmed that there was no altercation or issue at our restaurant and we were not involved in this incident.”

A spokeswoman for the company did not return a request for comment on the board's decision to begin the disciplinary process against Chuck E. Cheese's.

Over the years, the village has worked with CEC Entertainment to enhance safety at the location following violent incidents there.

CEC has installed surveillance cameras and monitors throughout the establishment, rearranged its interior to increase visibility and sight lines, and added “Rules of Conduct” signage to enhance compliance with restaurant policies.

Chuck E. Cheese's also has paid to have multiple Oak Lawn police officers work a security detail inside the restaurant Thursday through Sunday, and in 2014, it voluntarily relinquished its liquor license.

Kimco, which owns the shopping center, has done its part to improve security at the location — enhancing exterior lighting and paying for a police car to sit in the parking lot outside the store, Bury said.

Security upgrades made at the Oak Lawn restaurant this fall, following the August incident, included the hiring of an additional off-duty police officer to provide on-site security on weekends; the outfitting of game room attendants in brightly colored vests to make them more identifiable; the enhancement of both interior and exterior lighting; an increase in the prominence of code of conduct messaging; and the repositioning of a number of popular games that had been located side-by-side to decrease the potential for crowding.

Vorderer said he had not been in touch with CEC Entertainment officials since the shooting, but commended the company for “making every attempt” to resolve the Oak Lawn restaurant's ongoing safety issues.

“They have been a very responsible company ... and yet these problems continue,” said Vorderer, who has felt increasing pressure from residents to “take action to ensure the security of the community.”

“This incident has riled up the community to the point that I have to put it in the hands of the professionals to try and resolve the problem,” he said.

If the board votes to initiate disciplinary proceedings Wednesday, the case will move to an adjudicator, who will investigate the situation and make a recommendation to the board, Vorderer said.

“He could make a recommendation of no action, suspension of license or a revocation of license, so we'll see how that all plays out,” he said, adding that he thinks CEC Entertainment will put up a strong fight if the board ultimately votes to revoke the business' license.

zkoeske@tribpub.com

Twitter @ZakKoeske