White Sox Shooting: Woman Denies Gunshot Wound Was Self-Inflicted, But Questions Remain


An attorney representing one of the women who was shot inside Guaranteed Rate Field during a White Sox game last week said his client’s injuries were not the result of a self-inflicted gunshot.

Details about the incident remain scarce, days after a 42-year-old woman was shot in the leg and a 26-year-old woman suffered a graze wound to the abdomen, which occurred in the fourth inning of the Sox’s Friday game against the Oakland Athletics.

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Attorney John Malm, who represents the 42-year-old season ticket holder, said in a statement his client “denies bringing a firearm into the stadium and further denies having anything to do with the discharge of a firearm at the stadium.”

“We have reviewed photographic evidence and X-rays of our client’s injuries with firearms and medical experts who confirm the gunshot wound our client sustained was not self-inflicted and was not the result of her accidentally discharging a firearm,” Malm said. “We will continue investigating this matter further to pursue justice on behalf of our client who sustained serious personal injuries as a result of this shooting.”

Malm said the woman underwent “emergency medical treatment” for the gunshot wound she sustained. The 26-year-old woman refused medical attention. Both were seated in Section 161 in the outfield when they were struck.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, police reports indicate the 42-year-old “heard a loud popping noise” and “observed blood coming out of her right leg.” Responding officers learned she also has a valid firearm owner’s identification card, according to the Sun-Times.

But it’s not yet clear where the gunshots came from. The Chicago Police Department said its investigation remains ongoing, while Interim Police Superintendent Fred Waller said earlier this week detectives had “almost completely dispelled” the idea that the shots were fired from outside the ballpark. But according to WLS-TV, police officials are taking another look at the idea the shots came from outside Guaranteed Rate Field.

If the shots were fired inside the stadium, it’s unclear how someone got a firearm into the ballpark. Major League Baseball implemented mandatory metal detection screening at all stadiums for fans back in 2015.

After the shooting, the CPD issued a statement saying officers had “responded immediately and deployed additional resources” while working with team security to maintain the safety of others at the game.

The White Sox said they weren’t immediately aware anyone had been injured during the game, and that the CPD would have stopped play if officers thought it was unsafe to continue.

Waller on Monday said that “at one point in time it was requested” that the game be halted as a precaution, but added that police had “no active shooter information.”

“As we were gathering more information, the game continued and then very quickly the game ended,” he said.

Team spokesman Scott Reifert said police determined there was “no active threat and that the ballgame could continue.” The team also was in contact with the MLB.

“It’s always kind of scary when you have situations like we had in Chicago, especially watching the video and I’m sitting there in left field playing a baseball game and all those activities are going on,” Oakland’s Tony Kemp said. “That’s a little bit scary. That bullet could’ve hit me, and you know, I have a family and I have people that care for me and I care for them.”

The Major League Baseball Players Association said the union takes player safety “very seriously” and that it reviews club and stadium protocols throughout every season “to mitigate the possibility of similar future incidents.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson was asked about the incident at an unrelated news conference Wednesday morning, but did not provide any answers.

Chicago Public Schools confirmed that one of the women who was shot is a district employee.

“On behalf of the entire CPS community, we wish our staff member a speedy recovery,” a CPS spokesperson said in a statement, adding that the district will provide additional support to the employee and school community where she works.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson[email protected] | (773) 509-5431


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