Shooting kills mother, leaves 2-year-old boy, father, and another man wounded in Auburn Gresham
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 2-year-old boy, his parents, and another man were shot Wednesday afternoon in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood – and the boy's mother later died.
"All acts of violence are difficult to deal with, but it's especially difficult when there's a child involved," said Chicago Police Chief of Patrol Brian McDermott.
Chicago Police closed down multiple streets for hours Wednesday afternoon while they investigated the shooting. The crime scene stretched out for several blocks along 81st Street – from Racine Avenue to Throop Street – where at least 47 markers were placed along the streets where shell casings were found.
"Acts of violence such as this one will not be tolerated the city of Chicago, and we will be doing everything we can to bring these offenders to justice," McDermott said.
The shooting happened at 81st and Elizabeth streets at 3:14 p.m., according to McDermott.
McDermott said a black vehicle pulled up and approached, and the occupants exited and fired in the direction of the victims.
The 2-year-old boy was shot in the foot, as was his 29-year-old father. Both were in good condition, McDermott said.
The boy's 23-year-old mother was shot multiple times and was left in critical condition, McDermott said. A police report indicated that the mother was pronounced dead at a hospital within a couple of hours.
A 62-year-old man was shot in the back and was stabilized.
Police say one of the parents may have been the intended target.
The victims reportedly sought help at a fire station nearby at 8120 S. Ashland Ave. They were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.
An elongated crime scene was set up on 81st Street from Racine Avenue to Throop Street.
Forensic evidence specialists from the Chicago Police Department were on the scene at 5 p.m., and were placing numerous evidence markers where shell casings landed.
We counted around 47 spots where shell casings found.
McDermott said Area 2 detectives were also attempting to locate any private video. He asked the public to submit any information to CPDTIP.com – where anonymous tips can be made.
The Rev. Michael Pfleger was also at the scene Wednesday evening. He called the shooters "cowards."
"I got a call saying that there was a shooting down here. Hearing the information and from some of the witnesses out here that people got out of a car and got down to the street and aimed. When you aim at a mother and a 2-year-old child and a man sitting there, you have no conscience. You know you're a coward," Pfleger said. "You sit and you look and you see a 2-year-old child, and you shoot – which means you have no heart. You have no conscience."
Pfleger called on "someone with a conscience" to step up and call police or his St. Sabina Church – which is located a few blocks away.
Also at the scene Wednesday evening was Ald. David Moore (17th), who likewise called the shooting a "cowardly act."
Pfleger and Moore noted that there had been other recent violent incidents nearby, including the shooting at 81st Street and Racine Avenue late last month that killed 16-year-old Rashaun Hood, the grandson of antiviolence activist Rev. Robin Hood.
Police are not connecting the two shootings at this time.
Moore noted that police conducted a "blitz" following other recent shootings, but they "can't be on every block."
"If people are seeing anything or hearing anything before things happen, let us know about it. Call my office. Call St. Sabina. Call the police. Your name will not be used. You will remain anonymous," Moore said. "But we want to be proactive and not reactive in these situations."
Moore also called for the hiring of more police officers.
As of early Wednesday evening, no one was in custody in the latest shooting.
