A late Friday night gathering in West Englewood turned violent when a shooter opened fire into a crowd near West 66th Street and South Wolcott Avenue, leaving three people wounded. A 16-year-old boy was critically injured, while two adult men were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police said officers responded just before 10:45 p.m., after someone pulled out a handgun and fired into a group standing outside. The 16-year-old was struck in the neck and body and got himself to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition. A 40-year-old man, hit in the hip, also drove himself to the same hospital and was reported in good condition. A 28-year-old man suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and foot and was taken by the Chicago Fire Department to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was also listed in good condition.
Investigators recovered a gun at the scene. No arrests had been made, and Area One detectives were continuing their investigation, according to ABC7 Chicago.
Citywide picture
The shooting lands at a tricky moment for Chicago, as city leaders highlight early dips in violent crime tied to targeted community efforts, yet acknowledge those gains are fragile. The South and West Sides, including neighborhoods like West Englewood, remain vulnerable to sudden bursts of gunfire that can undercut progress and rattle residents’ sense of safety.
Recent reporting has pointed out that some neighborhood-level numbers are moving in the right direction, but the real test will be whether those trends survive the warmer months, when violence has historically climbed. That tension was underscored in coverage of the city’s evolving strategy and its new crime playbook.
How to help
Area One detectives are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call the division at (312) 747-8380. Tips can also be submitted anonymously at CPDTip.com. The Chicago Police Department lists contact details for Area One on its website for anyone who may be able to assist the investigation, according to the Chicago Police Department.
