Dan Ryan Attack Latest In Major Uptick In Expressway Shootings
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Three people suffered minor injuries early Friday, when someone in another vehicle shot up their car on the Dan Ryan Expressway, the 19th shooting so far this year on Chicago area expressways, matching last year's total for the entire year.
In the latest expressway shooting, three young men were driving south on the Dan Ryan near 57th Street, when someone in another vehicle fired multiple shots into their car. The driver drove to St. Bernard Hospital, where he and his passengers were treated for minor injuries.
A 20-year-old man, who identified himself only as a hip hop artist named Logan, was grazed by a bullet. He would not comment on the incident, or what led up to it, but said he was thankful his injuries were not more serious.
"I got shot in the back of the head. It was just a graze," he said. "I'm still fresh off it, so it's still surreal right now, but I'll probably have headaches and stuff for the next couple of days."
Illinois State Police said, through June 12, there have been at least 19 shootings on Chicago area expressways -- five on the Dan Ryan Expressway, five on the Eisenhower Expressway, four on the Stevenson Expressway, two on Interstate 57, two on the Bishop Ford Freeway, and one on the Kennedy Expressway.
State police in the Chicago area also investigated a 20th shooting, which occurred just off an expressway. In February, a state trooper spotted a stolen vehicle at a gas station at Garfield Boulevard and Wells Street, not far from the 55th Street exit ramp from the Dan Ryan. When the trooper approached a passenger for questioning, the 17-year-old ran off, and fired a shot at the trooper as he gave chase. The trooper returned fire, and the teen was arrested a short time later.
By comparison, there were 19 shootings on Chicago area expressways in all of 2014 -- including seven on the Dan Ryan, four on the Kennedy, three on the Eisenhower, three on Interstate 57, and one on the Stevenson, and one on the Bishop Ford.
