A Saturday afternoon ride on a CTA bus in Humboldt Park erupted into violence when a fight broke out, and two teenagers were shot, according to Chicago police.
The shooting happened around 3:19 p.m. on the 400 block of West Chicago Avenue. A 15-year-old boy was hit in the groin and buttocks, while an 18-year-old man was shot in the leg. Police said the older teen was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition.
What the police say
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the trouble started as a verbal argument between one male and a group of males aboard the bus. That dispute escalated into a physical fight, and during the struggle, the station reports, “a firearm went off.”
FOX 32 Chicago reports that the 15-year-old suffered wounds to the groin and buttocks, and the 18-year-old was shot in the leg. Police said Area Four detectives are investigating and that no one is in custody.
Where it happened
The shooting took place on a CTA bus near the 400 block of West Chicago Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side.
The incident lands amid ongoing anxiety about safety on Chicago’s buses and trains. In recent years, riders and officials have repeatedly raised alarms about violent crime on the transit system. A Chicago Sun-Times analysis documented a rise in violent incidents on CTA property that prompted promises of stepped-up security.
Investigation underway
Police provided the initial details of the shooting to FOX 32 Chicago and said Area Four detectives are leading the investigation. No arrests have been reported, and authorities have not released any further identifying information about a suspect, according to the station.
Why this matters
The bus shooting feeds into broader concerns about safety for both riders and neighbors as city leaders and the CTA wrestle with how to reduce violence on public transit. City and transit officials previously pledged more patrols and other measures after a series of violent incidents on CTA property, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
