A shooting in Chicago’s South Side, late Thursday, left 13 shot, including three minors, ages 15, 17, and 3. The group was in a park when dreadlocked men in a gray sedan shot at them, said Julian Harris, uncle of the 3-year-old.
“They hit the light pole next to me, but I ducked down and ran into the house,” said Harris. “They’ve been coming round here looking for people to shoot every night, just gang-banging stuff. It’s what they do.”
Police did not discuss details of who made the attack, but have suggested that it indeed was gang-related.
The three-year-old, Deonta’ Howard, was shot in the cheek and was said to be in critical condition by a fire official on the scene.
“He was talking when they first brought him in, but he’s heavily sedated now,” said Rev. Corey Brooks, a pastor at New Beginnings Church, who spoke with the family.
“They say he’s good,” said Semecha Nunn, the boys’ grandmother. “They going to have to do a little plastic surgery on him, but he’s OK.”
10 ambulances arrived at the scene to bring the victims to several hospitals on the area. One victim rode himself to the hospital.
Francis John, 70, who heard the popping of the guns from her nearby apartment, said that the neighborhood went from good to bad 10 years ago, but until Thursday night had been doing better.