Thirteen people were shot, two fatally, on the West Side in what appeared to be separate incidents early Sunday morning, Chicago police said.
Barbara Brown, 70, lives on North La Crosse and West End avenues in Austin, where one of the shootings happened. There were “over a thousand” young adults and teenagers in the area around 12:30 a.m., she said.
TikTok star Jroy hosted a party in the neighborhood Saturday night, according to social media posts. Videos on social media show hundreds of young adults and teens in the area, as well as a heavy police presence.
Police officers responded to a call reporting a large gathering on the 100 block of North La Crosse Avenue around 2:48 a.m. Sunday. Police said six people had been struck by gunfire, including a 22-year-old woman who was shot in the back and pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital.
More Top Picks Best Premium First Aid Kits For Homes
An hour earlier and just over a half mile from Brown’s residence, police responded to a call of a person shot in the 4500 block of West Wilcox Street in West Garfield Park. They found four victims of gunfire, two of whom were teens.
A 15-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy were shot multiple times and taken to Stroger Hospital. One was in serious condition and the other in good condition.
Two 28-year-old men were also injured in the shooting. One was struck in the neck and head and was brought to Mount Sinai in serious condition. The other sustained a graze wound to his leg and was brought to Mount Sinai in good condition.
On Sunday afternoon, Ald. Jason Ervin, 28th, released a statement on the West Wilcox and North La Crosse Avenue shootings.
“I am calling on our community leaders, our public safety partners, and concerned citizens to work together to bring the perpetrators of these shootings to justice and to begin the work of healing our community,” Ervin wrote in the statement. “The West Side of Chicago is home to strong, resilient people who deserve to live without fear.”
When Brown heard the shots ring out on La Crosse Avenue, she didn’t see the crowd moving, she said.
“I thought maybe they’re just trying to clear the congestion out. But then I heard firetrucks and an ambulance, and that girl got shot in the back right there,” Brown said.
Three victims were found in critical condition on La Crosse Avenue. A 29-year-old man was shot in the right leg and taken to Loretto Hospital. An 18-year-old man was struck in his chest and left arm and was taken to Stroger. A 17-year-old boy was hit in the left thigh and taken to Mount Sinai.
A 29-year-old woman was struck in the right elbow and was listed in good condition at Rush. An 18-year-old man was treated and released at the scene for a graze on his hand.
Two other shootings also occurred early Sunday morning.
Minutes before the West Wilcox shooting and less than a quarter of a mile from Brown’s home, police said a 20-year-old woman was shot several times in both arms in the 200 block of North Lamon Avenue in Austin. She was taken to Mount Sinai and was in good condition.
At 4:37 a.m., on the 5000 block of West Maypole Avenue in Austin, less than a quarter of a mile from the other two Austin incidents, two 18-year-old men were arguing with the occupants of a car when the two people in the car shot at them. One 18-year-old was taken to Stroger, where he was pronounced dead at 4:49 a.m. The other was taken to Mount Sinai in stable condition.
On Sunday night, the Cook County medical examiner’s office identified the 18-year-old who died as Kaleb Williams.
Police are investigating the four shootings. As of Sunday afternoon, no one was in custody.
baiduhai’s Nell Salzman contributed.