At least 10 people shot overnight; 82 killed or injured in last week

Story by Chicago Sun-Times

At least 10 people were wounded in shootings throughout the city – mainly on the South Side – Thursday night and Friday morning. Since last Thursday, at least 82 people have been wounded or killed in shootings in Chicago.

The most violent shooting overnight occurred at 12:48 a.m. in the 100 block of East 60th Street in the Washington Park neighborhood. Police said five men -- all in their 20s -- were standing outside when a white vehicle drove by and someone inside opened fire.

A 23-year-old man was shot in the side, a 24-year-old man was shot in the knee and thigh, a 29-year-old man was shot in the hand, another 29-year-old was also shot in the hand, and a man described only as being in his 20s was shot in the foot, according to police. According to Fire Media Affairs, one man was in critical condition and four others were in stable condition.

Another drive-by shooting with multiple victims took place about 3:45 a.m. in the 2600 block of West LeMoyne Street, in the West Town neighborhood.

A 25-year-old man was shot in the arm and leg and a 26-year-old man was shot in the arm. Both men were taken in good condition to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

Other shootings included:

• A 17-year-old male shot in the leg and buttock in the 5000 block of South Woodlawn Avenue about 4:20 a.m. He was taken in “stable” condition to an unidentified hospital, according to police.

• A 32-year-old man was shot while sitting on the rear porch of a building in the 6200 block of South Winchester Avenue in the Englewood neighborhood at 8:10 p.m. He heard gunshots and felt pain, police said. He was taken in “stable” condition to Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to the side.

• A 20-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the buttocks Thursday night in the Englewood neighborhood. He was standing on the sidewalk in the 5700 block of South Emerald Avenue about 9:15 p.m. when a male approached on foot and fired shots. The victim fled on foot and a friend took him to Saint Bernard Hospital, where he was listed in good condition, police said.

• Earlier Thursday, a man was wounded in a shooting just before 11 a.m. in the South Side Grand Boulevard neighborhood. Police were notified just before 11 a.m. of the shooting in the 4800 block of South Prairie Avenue, according to police News Affairs Officer Jose Estrada.

The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered a gunshot wound to the left leg and was taken to Mercy Hospital in an unknown condition.

From Wednesday night into early Thursday, at least 11 people were wounded by gunfire throughout the city – including a Chicago Police officer and two males shot by police.

The officer was wounded in a shootout with a 15-year-old boy about 8:05 p.m. Wednesday in the 1300 block of West 112th Place, police said.

The plainclothes officers stopped three teenage boys for “suspicious activity,” but a 15-year-old boy fired at the officers and “engaged in a gun battle,” said Police Supt. Garry McCarthy. But at least two residents said the officer shot his gun first.

The gunfire wounded a 35-year-old officer, a 5-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department, according to a police statement. The officer returned fire, striking the teen in the side and leg, McCarthy said.

Paramedics took the officer to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg, authorities said. Police detained the other two boys — 15 and 16.

Officers recovered a .380 automatic weapon on the scene, said McCarthy, who added several shots were fired.

In the other police-involved shooting Wednesday night, about 9:45 p.m., a Chicago Police officer shot a male in the 6600 block of South Langley Avenue. The officer approached and attempted to talk with him, but the suspect pulled a handgun and pointed it at the officer, who returned fire.

Other shootings early Thursday included a man and woman who were shot about 1:15 a.m. as they were in a car looking for a parking spot in the 3500 block of West Lawrence Avenue, police said.

The 27-year-old woman was driving a dark blue and white Cadillac and was looking for parking in an alley when a gray Nissan approached, police said. One of two men in the backseat of the Nissan pulled a gun and opened fire, striking a 20-year-old man in the Cadillac in the back of the head.

The woman – who was struck by shrapnel – sped away to escape, police said. Both were taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, the man in critical condition and the woman in good condition, police said.

The man and woman both appear to have gang affiliations, but it remained unclear if gang language was exchanged prior to the shots being fired, police said.

Fifteen minutes later, somebody in a passing SUV shot a 21-year-old man standing on the sidewalk in the 7900 block of South Morgan Street, police said. He was shot in the groin and taken to Christ Medical Center.