Whitney M. Young Magnet High School principal Rickey Harris says he is counting his blessings after gunfire shattered his car’s passenger-side window Friday night while he was driving home from a school dance showcase. Harris later found his vehicle peppered with bullet holes, checked himself for injuries, then drove to a police station, telling reporters he was "grateful to be alive." The harrowing close call has shaken the Near West Side school community as investigators try to figure out what exactly went down.
Harris told CBS Chicago that at first he thought something was kicking up rocks at his car, before realizing the rapid "pop pop pop" sounds were gunshots. He said the rounds hit the passenger side and front windshield of his vehicle at around 10:15 p.m. Friday, shortly after he left the dance showcase.
Car riddled with bullet holes
Photos Harris shared show multiple bullet holes along the passenger side and across the windshield, and he said he carefully checked himself for injuries before heading to the nearest police station, according to CBS Chicago. "I think it’s a miracle of God that I’m here today," Harris told reporters, adding that the experience left him reflective and grateful for the many community members who reached out afterward.
Principal's message to students
Harris is using the scare as a teachable moment, speaking directly to students and urging them to "live today to the fullest" while also asking what kind of support someone might have needed before turning to violence. The Whitney Young website details his long background in school leadership, underscoring his role as a steady presence at the Near West Side campus even after such a frightening ordeal.
What comes next
Harris said there are cameras at the intersection where it happened and that he plans to review the footage as part of the ongoing police investigation. Authorities have not released any information about possible suspects or charges, and Harris has urged calm while officers follow up on leads and the school keeps its regular activities on track.
