Woman Shot During Home Invasion In South Austin
Updated 10/31/13 - 11:01 a.m.
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two men carried out a home invasion Wednesday night, and shot a woman who tried to defend herself when they broke into her home in the South Austin neighborhood.
CBS 2's Courtney Gousman reports the 47-year-old woman told police she confronted a man who was wearing a mask and a hoodie, after he broke into the bedroom of her home in the 5000 block of West Van Buren Street around 6:15 p.m.
She struggled with that man, and was shot twice – once in the leg, and once in the stomach.
Police said the woman still tried to chase the gunman after she was shot, and spotted a second man in her home. Both intruders fled out the front door of the home.
After hearing her neighbor cry out for help, Gwendolyn Johnson saw the woman sitting on the back stair of her townhome. She helped the woman try to stop the bleeding until paramedics arrived.
"I had my daughter to run up, and give me a big clean towel, and wrap her leg – the bottom leg – and bring it up to her thigh to put the pressure there," Johnson said.
The woman was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, where she was listed in serious condition Thursday morning.
"I just thank God that she wasn't killed, and I don't know if they took anything, or what happened. I just thank God that they took her away from here, knowing that she will be okay," Johnson said.
News of the incident quickly spread through the neighborhood, but neighbors still had more questions than answers Thursday morning.
Melanie Davis said there hasn't been a problem like this in the area in years.
"Maybe years ago, but never no home invasions," she said. "This block is normally quiet. You never hear of anything going on."
It was not clear what the motive was for the break-in. No suspects were in custody as of late Thursday morning.
