A man was critically injured early Friday after being shot in the chest, forearm and eye while in the West Chesterfield neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, according to police. The victim managed to flee the scene and call for help before he was taken to a hospital, where he remained in critical condition.
According to ABC7 Chicago, the shooting happened around midnight in the 8800 block of South State Street. Police said the man was in his car at the time he was shot in the chest, forearm and eye. He was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition.
Victim Fled Before Seeking Help
Despite his injuries, the victim fled the scene and called for help on his own, the outlet's report notes. It is not clear how far he traveled before reaching safety or making that call. Area Two detectives are now investigating the shooting, per the same account.
The evidence gathered so far does not include the victim's identity, his age or a description of any suspect. No arrest information, motive or weapon details have been released, and it remains unknown whether the shooting is connected to any other incident.
Trauma Center's Role in Firearm Survival
The victim's transport to the University of Chicago Medical Center places this case within the service area of a hospital that has drawn academic attention for its trauma outcomes. The facility is designated as a Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, treating the most seriously injured patients around the clock, according to University of Chicago Medicine.
A study published in JAMA Surgery in February, titled “Firearm Mortality and Equitable Access to Trauma Care in Chicago,” examined more than 45,000 firearm-related incidents across the city between 2010 and 2024. University of Chicago Medicine says the research found that the opening of its Level 1 trauma center in 2018 was associated with a nearly 4% reduction in firearm mortality in its service area, which includes neighborhoods like West Chesterfield.
Researchers also found that after May 2018, shooting victims in the hospital's service area reached a trauma center nearly 10 minutes faster on average and traveled about 3.4 fewer miles to get treatment. The study additionally found that the percentage of shooting victims who died in that area dropped by 3.9% following the trauma center's opening. The findings describe area-wide associations over time and do not speak to the outcome of any individual case, including this one.
What Remains Unknown
No Chicago Police Department release or incident report has been made public beyond the details shared with reporters, and there is no update yet on the victim's medical condition following his arrival at the hospital. Area Two detectives continue to investigate as the search for answers goes on.
