A security guard was left fighting for his life Tuesday afternoon after gunfire ripped through a parking lot in Chicago's Washington Heights neighborhood. The man was shot on the 9400 block of South Ashland Avenue around 3:30 p.m., according to officials, and was rushed to a nearby hospital in serious condition as officers locked down the scene and canvassed for witnesses.
Police response and scene details
Chicago police say the victim, a 32-year-old security guard, was hit while working in the parking lot and taken to Christ Hospital in critical condition, according to CBS Chicago. A handgun was recovered at the scene, and Area One detectives are now leading the investigation.
Authorities have not released many specifics about what led up to the shooting. Detectives continued to process the 9400 block of South Ashland into the evening, methodically checking for physical evidence and looking to speak with anyone who might have seen or heard something.
Washington Heights context
The shooting is the latest in a string of violence that has rattled Washington Heights and parts of the Far South Side this winter, where residents have repeatedly called for more resources and faster police response. Just last month, two 18-year-olds were shot in the neighborhood, and ongoing coverage by the Chicago Sun-Times has chronicled a mix of fatal and nonfatal attacks in recent years.
How to help investigators
Police are asking anyone with information about Tuesday's shooting to contact Area One detectives at (312) 747-8380 or submit an anonymous tip through the CPD tip form. In an emergency, authorities remind residents to call 911, while non-emergency tips can also go through 311 or designated Chicago Police Department hotlines.
No arrests have been made as detectives continue their probe. Investigators are reviewing any available video or photos from the area and working to piece together what happened, according to CBS Chicago.
