A file photo shows a crime scene blocked off by the Chicago Police Department. (WTTW News)
A pair of mass shootings on the South Side left one teen dead and 10 others wounded Tuesday, a day in which more than 20 people were shot across Chicago.
Police Superintendent David Brown said one teen was killed and four others were wounded in a Back of the Yards shooting Tuesday afternoon that investigators believe was the result of escalating gang violence between two factions in the area.
That shooting occurred around 4:30 p.m. in the 4800 block of South Ada Street. A group of teens was standing outside when a stolen red Mazda drove by and several occupants got out and began firing at the group. Police said a 19-year-old man was shot in the left side of the body and head and later died.
Four other teens were also wounded: a 16-year-old boy who was struck in the left shoulder, arm, face and ankle is listed in critical condition; an 18-year-old man who was shot in the hip and knee is also listed in critical condition; another 18-year-old man who was shot in the right leg is listed in good condition; and a 16-year-old boy who suffered a graze wound to the ankle refused medical attention.
According to Brown, this was a gang-related incident and said there was an “exchange” of gunfire between the parties.
The suspects crashed the Mazda while fleeing the area and investigators recovered three firearms. Brown said two reputed gang members were arrested and charged after they allegedly began attacking officers as they tried to set up a perimeter after the shooting.
“Unfortunately the level of violence that we experienced last night is just beyond what’s even reasonable, there’s no reason for it,” said Craig Chico, president and CEO of the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council.
The superintendent said violence has been rising in the neighborhood following the murder of the brother of a high-ranking gang member allegedly by members of a rival gang.
Another mass shooting occurred hours later around 10:30 p.m. in the 6400 block of South Richards Drive in Jackson Park. In that shooting, two groups were simultaneously live-streaming in the area when they got into a conflict that led to an exchange of gunfire.
“One group began arguing with the other,” Brown said. “It’s senseless, no excuse for it, it’s unacceptable.”
Six people were struck — including a 29-year-old woman and a 37-year-old woman who were hospitalized in serious condition — but no one was killed. Brown said the other victims suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Officers were already on scene in Jackson Park, but the suspects were able to escape after the shooting. No one is currently in custody following this incident.
“So we have a lot of work to do,” Brown said, “to try and establish some type of leads.”
About an hour later, two more people were wounded in another Jackson Park shooting that occurred in the 6500 block of South Promontory Drive.
All told, police data shows at least 21 people were shot in Chicago on Tuesday.
Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431
