Gunfire broke out late Saturday on Chicago's South Side after what police say started as a confrontation near 79th Street and quickly escalated. Just after 10:20 p.m., shots rang out in the 7900 block of South Drexel Avenue, leaving two adult men and a 17-year-old boy injured. Authorities said the wounds were considered non-life-threatening. The adults were taken to nearby hospitals, and the teen, who suffered a graze wound to his eyebrow, was also reported to be in stable condition. All three were expected to recover, as detectives worked the case into the night. No arrests had been announced as of early Sunday.
According to ABC7 Chicago, two of the victims had been arguing with a group of men shortly before someone pulled a gun and opened fire. The station reports the adult victims are 33 and 29 years old and confirms the 17-year-old was hit with a grazing shot to the eyebrow. ABC7 Chicago also noted that officers stayed on scene overnight, canvassing the area for evidence and witnesses as they searched for suspects.
Shooting Hits As Citywide Violence Climbs
The attack comes during a stretch of rising gun violence that has city officials on edge this spring. An investigation by NBC Chicago found that shootings surged sharply in late March, with one seven-day period seeing about a 78% jump compared with the same week a year earlier. City leaders told the station they are shifting patrols and resources to try to keep pace with the spike, while detectives continue working to identify and arrest those behind the latest wave of shootings.
79th And Drexel's Troubling Track Record
Neighbors say the corridor around 79th and Drexel has dealt with more than its share of trouble in recent months, frustrating residents and transit riders who rely on the busy stretch. In September, a beloved barbershop owner was shot and killed near East 79th Street and Drexel, an incident detailed by ABC7 Chicago. A separate March attack at the 79th Red Line stop left two people seriously hurt, and the Chicago Sun-Times has reported on a bus-related shooting on the same block in 2025, underscoring how often this corner finds itself back in the crime reports.
Police Seek Tips As Investigation Continues
Chicago police have not publicly identified any suspects in the latest shooting and are asking anyone with information to come forward as investigators follow up on leads. City officials told NBC Chicago they are reviewing how patrols are deployed in areas hit hard by recent violence, including this stretch of Drexel. Anyone who may have seen or heard anything related to Saturday night's shooting is urged to contact Chicago police to assist the ongoing investigation.
