A 17-year-old student was shot near Stephen Tyng Mather High School in Chicago's North Side, stirring concerns around school safety and community violence. The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon at Mather Park, a common area for the school's outdoor activities. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the boy was sitting in a car around 3:20 p.m. when an individual approached and opened fire, hitting him in the left arm.
Following the shooting, situated in the 5900 block of North California Avenue, the student was transported to Evanston Hospital and was reported to be in good condition. Struggling to handle the aftershock, Mather High School was put under a "soft lockdown" as staff and students were ushered back inside during the commotion, shared Ald. Andre Vasquez in a notice to residents. While no suspects have been detained as of yet, the school's security measures have been tightened, with police officers assigned to be on the premises at dismissal times indefinitely, announced by the office of the Alderman.
As per CBS News Chicago, Mather Park borders the west side of California Avenue, where basketball courts and other athletic structures can be found. The shooting site is close to a BP gas station located at the southeast corner of Peterson and California avenues.
In response to the incident, a crisis team from Chicago Public Schools was dispatched to offer support to students and staff. The importance of accessible counseling and assistance for those shaken by violence remains paramount, as noted by Ald. Vasquez who confirmed that the crisis team, along with a heightened police presence, will remain a fixture during school hours to establish an environment conducive to healing and learning.
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