Gunfire erupted late Saturday night on a quiet block in Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood, leaving three people shot, including a 20-year-old man who is fighting for his life. The victims, who police say were simply standing outside on the 5000 block of South Hoyne Avenue, were hit when shots rang out. Detectives are now trying to piece together who opened fire and why.
What police say
Officers responded around 11:49 p.m. to reports of a shooting and found three males wounded, according to ABC7 Chicago. Police said the victims “heard gunshots and felt pain” while they were outside.
The 20-year-old man was shot in the chest and rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, authorities said. A 16-year-old boy was hit in the left leg, and an 18-year-old man was shot in the right shoulder; both younger victims were expected to survive, according to police. No arrests had been announced as of early Sunday, and detectives were canvassing the area for witnesses and any security video that might show the shooter or shooters.
Neighborhood context
The shooting is the latest in a string of violent incidents on the Southwest Side. In April, local coverage detailed a drive-by that wounded three men in the neighborhood, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Back of the Yards also saw a February case in which a driver was critically injured after being shot, reported in coverage of a drive-by that wounded three men.
Community groups such as the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council run summer programs and street-level events like “Hoops in the Hood” that organizers say help keep young people engaged and the streets safer. Despite those efforts, local reporting notes that many residents remain frustrated by recurring violence and urge anyone with video, information, or tips to share them with investigators.
Police and next steps
Chicago police have asked anyone with information or footage from the 5000 block of South Hoyne Avenue to contact detectives, and stressed that no one was in custody as of the latest update, according to ABC7 Chicago. Investigators are expected to keep reviewing surveillance video and following up on tips as the probe moves forward.
