A stretch of the Magnificent Mile turned into a shooting scene Monday night when a woman out for a walk was caught in a drive-by that left a parked car riddled with bullets and brought a rush of squad cars to a busy downtown block.
Police said the gunfire erupted at about 9:27 p.m. in the first block of East Chicago Avenue. The 25-year-old woman was hit in the thigh and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she was listed in fair condition. Detectives from the Chicago Police Department’s Area Three bureau are handling the case.
What police say
According to ABC7 Chicago, officers said a white sedan pulled alongside a red sedan occupied by a 22-year-old man, and someone inside the white car opened fire. The red vehicle was left with extensive damage from the barrage of bullets, but its driver was not injured, ABC7 reported. Area Three detectives were called to process the scene and gather evidence.
Downtown context
The incident lands amid a recent run of armed robberies and other violent episodes reported around the Magnificent Mile this month, according to CWBChicago. High-profile bursts of downtown gun violence in recent years, including a mass shooting near State and Chicago avenues in May 2022, have led to stepped-up patrols and scrutiny in the area, as documented by the Chicago Sun-Times. Those earlier incidents have kept both police and business groups zeroed in on public safety in the heavily trafficked shopping and tourist corridor.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities have not released a suspect description and have not announced any arrests in the case, ABC7 Chicago reported. Detectives continue to collect evidence and review available video as the investigation remains active.
