Man Shot And Killed While Sitting In Vehicle In South Loop; Dog Apparently Wounded In Attack
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A person was shot dead in broad daylight Saturday afternoon in the South Loop, and a dog also might have been hurt in the attack.
Police said a male of unknown age was in a car on the 600 block of South Wells Street around 1:15 p.m., when a gunman pulled up in another vehicle and started shooting.
The victim's car then crashed into a United States Postal Service truck.
Viewer video of the scene showed police taking a dog out of the back of the victim's car. Witnesses said officers treated the dog and then soon after paramedics arrived and took the victim to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
"I saw him, and he was extremely bloody," said witness Rochelle Ritchie, who took video of the police response from her South Loop apartment.
"I don't know what this man's story was or what led up to it, but i just feel for his family," she said. "This is just another sign of the violence that is plaguing our city."
The driver of the postal truck was not in the vehicle at the time and was not hurt.
Police believe the shooter drove away after the attack.
Area One detectives are investigating. Police have not said if anyone is in custody.
Chicago crime data shows shootings are trending up in the downtown area, with 18 so far this year in the CPD 1st (Central) District, compared to 8 at this time last year.
There was also a recent carjacking nearby.
On Friday morning, a man flashed a gun at a driver on the 200 block of West Harrison Street, and stole the victim's car, before crashing about a block away, not far from the scene of Saturday's shooting.
Officers arrested 26-year-old Treyvon Marks, who was charged with vehicular hijacking.
Last Saturday, a nearby business in Printers Row had a window shot out, but no one was injured.
While residents said they do not see any incidents as random, they are still unsettling for people in the area, especially as life returns to normal now that the city has fully reopened.
