Christmas Day cleanup turned painful on Chicago’s Northwest Side when a handgun went off inside a home, striking a 20-year-old man in the right hand, according to Chicago police. He was taken to Endeavor Health's Swedish Hospital and was listed in good condition. A 32-year-old man who had been handling the firearm stayed at the scene, and police said the case remains under investigation with no one in custody.
What the police said
Police said the shooting happened around 11:55 a.m. in the 3700 block of West Agatite Avenue in the Albany Park neighborhood. According to an initial report, the gun discharged while the 32-year-old was performing maintenance on it, and the round struck the younger man. The information was shared with the media in a preliminary release from the department, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
Police told the outlet that the 32-year-old is a valid Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) cardholder and that detectives were continuing to investigate the circumstances of the discharge.
Investigation and legal note
Officers did not release the make or model of the firearm or give a detailed sequence of events leading up to the shot being fired. Detectives are working to determine whether any laws were violated, and Chicago police did not say whether charges are expected at this point. The department asked anyone with information to contact the detectives handling the case.
Hospital update
The wounded man was taken to Endeavor Health's Swedish Hospital on the North Side, whose main campus is listed on California Avenue. Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital confirms it provides emergency services at that location and treats patients from the surrounding area. The initial details of the incident came from a Chicago Police Department release, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
