Authorities say a Chicago man is finally facing charges in a December West Side shooting that left a man badly hurt. Prosecutors allege 34-year-old Fabian Wells walked up to a man on a Lawndale sidewalk on Dec. 8 and fired several shots, sending the victim to Mount Sinai Hospital in serious condition.
Arrest and charges
Wells was arrested Wednesday near Dearborn and Federal streets and has been charged with one felony count of aggravated battery/discharge of a firearm, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Prosecutors say he is scheduled for a detention hearing Friday.
Shooting and victim
The shooting happened around 7 p.m. on Dec. 8 near 21st Street and Kildare Avenue, when police say someone walked up to the victim and opened fire, CBS Chicago reports. The 43-year-old man was struck twice in the chest and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was listed in serious condition.
Suspect's record
According to FOX 32 Chicago, Wells has been arrested in Chicago five times since 2014, most recently in 2021 on a charge of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. Investigators have not released a possible motive and say the case remains active.
Neighborhood context
Lawndale and other West Side neighborhoods have grappled with repeated shootings in recent years, and hospitals like Mount Sinai routinely treat victims from those incidents. Violence-intervention groups and neighborhood leaders often coordinate with police and hospital staff to support patients and try to head off any retaliation, Block Club Chicago has reported.
What's next
Wells is due in court Friday for the detention hearing, where a judge will decide whether he stays locked up while the case moves forward. Police say Area Four detectives are continuing the investigation and asked anyone with information to contact them.
