Gunfire tore through the early morning calm outside Ford City Mall on Chicago’s Southwest Side on Saturday, leaving a man critically wounded in the parking lot of a retail complex already on life support and heading for a court-ordered shutdown later this month.
What happened
According to CBS News Chicago, the shooting happened early Saturday and left one man in critical condition. Video from the scene shows medics working on the victim in the mall’s parking area while officers and bystanders look on.
The broadcast report did not name the victim or identify a suspect. Police have not released further details, and the incident remains under investigation.
Ford City context
Ford City Mall, at 7601 S. Cicero Ave., has been plagued by vacancies and safety issues and is under a judge’s order to close by noon on June 22 after city officials argued the property posed an “imminent danger.” The order cited flooding, exposed wiring, and a risk of sinkholes, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The mall’s deteriorating condition has frustrated nearby residents and local officials, who have watched the onetime shopping anchor hollow out while safety complaints stack up.
Redevelopment and safety worries
Developers have floated plans to demolish the mall and replace it with warehouses or light manufacturing in a $150 million proposal that a $150 million industrial revamp reported could bring hundreds of jobs while reshaping traffic patterns and land use around the site.
Local leaders, including Ald. Derrick Curtis, have pressed for tighter security and more aggressive enforcement as the property winds down. Neighbors have long complained about car “takeovers” in the parking lots and other safety concerns at and around the mall.
What’s next
The shooting remains under investigation, and officials have not announced any arrests or released the victim’s identity, according to CBS News Chicago. This story will be updated as the Chicago Police Department or city officials release more information.
