Two men are fighting for their lives after a burst of gunfire tore through a quiet stretch of sidewalk early Friday in Chicago's Chatham neighborhood. Police say the pair were standing near 79th Street and Maryland Avenue around 1:30 a.m. when someone walked up and opened fire. Both men were rushed to Jackson Park Hospital, where they were listed in critical condition.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the victims are 37 and 40 years old. The 40-year-old was shot in the back, while the 37-year-old suffered gunshot wounds to his arm, torso, and ankle. Officers said the shooter ran off, and investigators have not released any suspect description. Area Two detectives are handling the case.
Investigation
Chicago police say detectives typically canvass for witnesses, search nearby buildings for surveillance footage, and collect shell casings or other physical evidence as part of their follow-up work. Official guidance from the Chicago Police Department also highlights family-liaison services for victims' relatives and lists contact information for the Bureau of Detectives' Area Two office.
A tense spring in Chatham
The shooting lands in the middle of a rough spring for Chatham. Hoodline previously covered an April 16 late-night apartment melee that ended in gunfire, and the Chicago Sun-Times has reported additional shootings along the 79th Street corridor. Residents and community leaders say the repeated violence has sharpened long-standing safety worries in the neighborhood.
No arrests have been announced, and police have not released the victims' names. This story will be updated as investigators or city officials provide more details.
