A tragic case of mistaken identity has left a 54-year-old woman fighting for her life after being shot in the face on Chicago's South Side, authorities said. The incident, occurring just before the stroke of midnight in the 6700 block of South Prairie Avenue, unfolded when a 59-year-old man believed his home was under siege by a burglar. According to the CBS Chicago report, he opened fire when the door opened, inadvertently hitting a woman he knew on the right side of her face.
"He fired one shot when the door opened," Chicago police detailed the sequence of events, as the critically wounded woman was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center. While believed someone was trying to break into his home, the man's attempt to protect his abode turned disastrous, the police mentioned.
The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, now continues her battle in critical condition. Chicago police have indicated that a weapon was found at the scene and is now in the authorities' possession. Area One detectives are currently piecing together the circumstances leading up to the shooting, examining the factors that culminated in the near-fatal error.
Meanwhile, as reported by the Chicago Tribune, the shooter immediately called 911, seeking aid for the victim he had mistakenly judged a threat. The man, yet to be charged, now awaits the unfolding legal assessment, with detectives investigating whether his actions could be justified under the intense pressure of a perceived home invasion.
