Man, 9-year-old girl shot near school in Chicago's Uptown neighborhood
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A man and a 9-year-old girl were wounded Friday afternoon in a shooting outside a public school in the Uptown neighborhood.
At 3:25 p.m., the girl and the man, 45, were standing on the sidewalk near the south playlot outside William C. Goudy Technology Academy, 5120 N. Winthrop Ave. The playlot fronts Winona Street just south of Foster Avenue. The students at the school had just been dismissed for the day.
Police said the man and the girl were both struck by unknown gunfire.
"Any instance of gun violence is unacceptable. But when it's very close to our schools, when it's in a school zone, we all have to be on high alert," said Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th), who responded to the scene after the shooting, "and this is outrageous."
The 9-year-old girl suffered a graze wound to the calf and was taken to Lurie Children's Hospital in good condition, police said.
The man was shot in the arm. Manaa-Hoppenworth said the man ran inside Goudy Technology Academy after being shot.
Manaa-Hoppenworth said the man was able to get assistance from those inside the school, who rendered aid. The man was ultimately taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition.
"I'm very thankful to the principal at Goudy and his staff for administering first aid to the victim who was shot in the arm," Manaa-Hoppenworth said.
In a letter to parents, Goudy Technology Academy Principal Bill Yeh wrote that the school was placed on lockdown after the shooting. Police gave the school the all-clear to lift the lockdown later in the afternoon, and all students and staff members were safe.
Yeh advised parents that if their children had expressed fears or concerns about the shooting, the school would make social-emotional support available.
Manaa-Hoppenworth said her office is taking the shooting very seriously, particularly since a child is involved. Some people have said they are ready to move away from the neighborhood because of the violence—and Jackie O'Connor said she has already done just that.
O'Connor got off the train and walked up the all-too-familiar scene outside the school Friday afternoon.
"I used to live here, and I would say probably it's not unheard of to hear this kind of issue happening, you know, a few times in a year—but more regularly, a few times a month, unfortunately," O'Connor said. "We have children who go to these schools. We have children in the community. We have a lot of families. It's just troubling to continue to hear and see this."
When asked if she moved out of the neighborhood because of the violence, O'Connor said, "Truthfully, yes.
"I have two kids now, and being so close to this activity is troubling for children—and wanting to have a safe environment for the children," she said. "So that's really the reason why we don't live here anymore. We continue to be part of this community, but definitely chose to move our home life out of this area."
Manaa-Hoppenworth said she does not want to see people move away, but sadly, she understands why they are.
"We don't want people to leave. We want people to stay, and it's for all of those reasons you just mentioned—including the schools, and the daycares, and the parks, and the great community we have. There are many, many reasons to stay," she said, "but, yes when you are not feeling safe, when homes are feeling like they are becoming unaffordable to stay here, when you're having a hard time making ends meet, when you feel unsafe, it's going to be easier for you to move."
Manaa-Hoppenworth said as alderwoman, she is working with other stakeholders to improve public safety and address gun violence. These stakeholders include schools, the Chicago Police Department, and the Mayor's office. The alderwoman said she would like to see increased police patrols.
""We would love to see more patrols in this area—especially foot patrols, bike patrols, and even the car patrols are helpful. We would love to see more officers on the beat," she said, "so this is something we've been asking for."
But this has not happened. Manaa-Hoppenworth said she is also now working with other alderpeople to improve safety.
"This cannot happen again. We would like this to end," Manaa-Hoppenworth said. "One instance of gun violence is too much."
No one was in custody late Friday in the shooting. Belmont Area detectives are investigating.