Tragedy struck the West Loop early Thursday morning when gunfire took a man's life. The victim, thought to be in his 40s, was found with a chest wound near the Clinton Green and Pink Line CTA station, at about 12:50 a.m., according to ABC7 Chicago. He was discovered on the 500 block of West Lake Street after being shot on the 100 block of North Clinton Street, near the Ogilvie Transportation Center.
Emergency responders rushed the man to Stroger Hospital, where he was originally listed in critical condition, before succumbing to his injuries. As the sun rose over the Windy City, the assailant remained at large, with Area Three detectives piecing together the night's violent puzzle. No arrests had been made, according to the Chicago Tribune and the investigation was ongoing.
In the wake of the shooting, local Alderman Bill Conway called attention to the area's recent surge in violence. Conway highlighted a particularly troubling incident that occurred on Friday, wherein a man was arrested with an illegally loaded gun and drugs valued at $60,000 in the very same vicinity of the shooting. Conway's concerns were further underscored by his reference to prior violence, including two other shootings and several armed robberies in recent weeks.
"Based on the clear trajectory of violent crime in the area, this tragic fatal shooting was inevitable and likely avoidable," Conway told ABC7 Chicago. The Alderman has pushed for beefed-up public safety measures, hoping to stem the tide of crime that has residents and commuters on edge.
