Woman Suffers Graze Wound, Firehouse And Other Buildings Struck By Bullets In West Rogers Park Shooting
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Gunfire early Sunday morning rocked a section of the West Rogers Park neighborhood that has long been known as a quiet place to live.
As CBS 2's Jeremy Ross reported, the bullets went flying in all directions on California Avenue between Rosemont and Granville avenues.
Booze bottles and trash littered West Ridge Plaza on the west side of California Avenue on Sunday. The scene tells a story.
The debris supports what neighbors describe as a party – with some perhaps drinking shots and then firing shots.
"Like 30 rounds, like, 'Ra-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta!'" said Joe Pedro.
That is what Pedro said woke him up around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. The gunfire startled other neighbors as well, including firefighters working at Engine Company 71 at 6239 N. California Ave.
Bullet holes and evidence markers were seen at their building. A source told CBS 2 some Chicago Fire Department first responders were outside at the time and had to duck for cover.
"The windows and everything - that's not good, man!" Pedro said. "They help us, so why you going to go do something like that?"
Some of the gunfire ended up in a nearby driveway, hitting at least one car The owner, Rayon Shippy, didn't hear it - but later Sunday, he was preparing to feel it in the wallet
"I was shocked," Shippy said. "I was like, what the hell?"
He does not yet know how much the damage was.
"I'm not sure," Shippy said. "I'm going to take it to the shop tomorrow."
Shippy said his Mercedes Benz, for now, has a bullet wedged somewhere in the trunk.
Many say the area is not crime-ridden at all. But the Rogers Park (24th) District – which is bounded by the Howard Street and the Evanston boundary line on the north; Peterson, Elmdale, and Thorndale avenues on the south; Lake Michigan on the east; and Kedzie Avenue on the west – has been seeing some trouble with violent crime lately.
The district has reported 31 shootings this year – up 72 percent compared to the same time a year ago.
"Everybody's going crazy," Pedro said. "Everybody got to stay home."
Police said a 27-year-old woman driving through the crime scene at the time suffered a graze wound to the head. She drove herself a nearby hospital.
But considering the amount of gunfire involved and the number of people nearby, it is fortunate that no one else was injured – including the very first responders tasked with saving those who might be hurt, or worse, in a fire.
As Sunday night, no arrests had been made. Area Three detectives were investigating.