3-Year-Old Boy Released From Hospital After Being Shot In The Arm Outside Library In North Lawndale

CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 3-year-old boy was released from the hospital Thursday afternoon, hours after he was shot and wounded outside a public library in North Lawndale.

The boy's family said in a statement late Thursday afternoon that he was released from Stroger Hospital of Cook County.

"His family is grateful for the concern of the community and requests privacy at this time," the statement said.

The boy was sitting in a car with his uncle outside the Douglass Branch Library near 13th Street and Homan Avenue shortly after 9 a.m. when the shots rang out.

The boy's aunt was inside the library using the copy machine, Chicago Police Chief of Patrol Fred Waller said.

Two gunmen came around the corner and started shooting at a 35-year-old man on the street, police said.

There was confusion right out of the gate as the first call that came in was for an officer shot. It was actually a police cruiser that was hit by the gunfire.

But the call brought the acting chief to the scene.

Meanwhile, the scenario that did unfold was horrific enough unto itself. The boy was stuck in the middle, and was struck in the arm by a bullet.

"He's bleeding, squad. I don't know if he got shot or not," an officer is heard saying over the police radio. "Roll an ambulance, squad. We got a baby bleeding over here."

Police and fire officials said the boy was initially taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition.

"This is another one of those situations' that's totally unacceptable. As you say, this time of the day, for someone to come out that way, and that's why we think this is a targeted, not just a random incident, but a targeted incident," Waller said.

The 35-year-old man who was targeted was shot in the heel. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition, police said.

The 3-year-old's uncle was not injured. Police do not believe the uncle or the boy were intended targets.

Waller said that man fled the scene after the shooting, and police are investigating whether that man might have returned fire at his assailants. A police K-9 unit was being used to follow his trail.

Waller said the Chicago Police vehicle that was hit by gunfire was on its way to the Ogden (10th) District police station after responding to a domestic situation. No officers were injured.

Detectives are checking Chicago police "pod" cameras, the cameras on a CTA bus that was at the scene, and surveillance cameras from the library to check for any footage of the shooting.

"It should be at a point where kids don't have to worry about stupidity like this," said neighbor Mike McCampbell.

In:
• Shooting
• Lawndale
• Crime