A 17-year-old boy is in critical condition after being shot multiple times early Thursday in Chicago's Back of the Yards neighborhood, according to police. The gunfire erupted at about 12:30 a.m. in the 4300 block of South Ashland Avenue. Officers said the suspects took off before they arrived, and no arrests had been reported as of Thursday morning.
According to ABC7 Chicago, officers say the teen was standing outside when three male suspects approached, one pulled out a gun and opened fire. The victim was struck several times and taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. Detectives with the department's Area One unit are handling the investigation.
Recent incidents along South Ashland
The shooting comes along a stretch of South Ashland that has already seen trouble this year. Coverage of a late-night Back of the Yards shooting in February detailed a separate incident on the 4200 block of South Ashland that left another victim critically wounded.
How the city tracks incidents
Reporters and researchers commonly rely on the City of Chicago's open-data portal, including the City of Chicago "Crimes - 2001 to Present" dataset, to map shootings and other offenses by block. The public dataset is updated daily but typically omits the most recent seven days while records are finalized. That resource, combined with local reporting, helps identify patterns in neighborhoods such as Back of the Yards.
Police response and tips
Authorities are urging anyone with information or video of the incident to contact the Chicago police. As ABC7 Chicago reports, Area One detectives are investigating, and no arrests have been announced.
The investigation remains active, and police said they will release more details as they become available. This report will be updated if officials or local outlets publish new information.
