2 Teens Wounded In Shooting Near Chicago Vocational High School; Business Owner Rushes In To Save Others
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two teenagers were wounded Thursday afternoon in a shooting just around the corner from Chicago Vocational High School in the Avalon Park community.
As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, the shooting happened at 87th Street and Jeffery Boulevard. The school is located at 2100 E. 87th St. just to the east.
At 3:54 p.m., a group of about seven students from CVS High School were just getting out of class and were in a strip mall parking lot on 87th Street when they got caught in gunfire.
Surveillance video shows a gunman pointing and aiming toward the sidewalk, where the victims were. The gunman then took off running down the alley.
Two of the young people were each shot in the thigh, police said. One of the victims was a 16-year-old girl, the other a 19-year-old man, police said.
They were both taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition. The female victim was seen on video being put into the back of an ambulance. She was alert at the time.
Meanwhile, another student hunkered down behind a car in the parking lot trying to find safety while others ran. Thankfully, a business owner let her in.
"It was scary," said the restaurant owner.
The restaurant owner described the moment he heard several gunshots right outside his business. After several students run, the young man who was shot is seen on the ground - crawling across the parking lot.
"I felt like, OK somebody's in trouble," the restaurant owner said.
The store owner would soon realize just how close the shots were. When he rushed to the door, the young lady hiding in front of the car was quick to get his attention.
"I was trying to help her out," he said. "But when I was getting close to the door, I still heard the shots - and I thought as soon as I have a chance, I'll open the door so we can save her."
So he opened the door to let the young woman in. Another teenager was seen on video running for safety too.
"I was thinking about her. If i had seen her or if something happened to her, I would not forget it my whole life," the restaurant owner said. "The one thing I was thinking, like, I've got to save her."
After the gunman took off, he left behind several bullet shell casings – and fear for everyone.
"I'm not worried about myself," the restaurant owner said. "More about the kids."
Many business owners said they would like to see Chicago Police back patrolling and/or sitting in the strip mall parking lot during dismissal time for CVS students.
The Chicago Public Schools released the following statement:
"Chicago Public Schools is committed to ensuring the safety of all of our students. We cannot confirm a student's school of attendance due to privacy laws. The incident happened off school grounds, but in the vicinity of the school shortly after dismissal time. Any students who were in the area were brought back into the building to safety. CPD responded immediately."
Late Thursday, no one was in custody and detectives were investigating.
