At least two girls were in serious-to-critical condition after being shot at a park on the Northwest Side tonight, officials said.
Chicago police were notified about the shooting at about 7:50 p.m. on the 3500 block of West School Street, police said. The shooting occurred near Avondale Park, officials said.
Police said that two girls, both considered juveniles, were shot.
One of the victims sustained a gunshot wound to her head while the other person sustained a gunshot wound to her back, police said. The ages of the girls were not available.
The girls were taken to Children's Memorial Hospital for treatment, according to a Chicago Fire Department spokesman.
UPDATE
Police said that a 2-year-old suffered a graze wound to the head and a 7-year-old was shot in the upper back.
The girls may have gotten caught in gang gunfire because someone apparently flashed gang signs before the shooting occurred, police said.
Someone got out of a van in an alley on Drake and fired shots at a group of people playing basketball, said Albany Park District Cmdr. Melissa Staples.
One suspect was in custody and police were questioning various witnesses who may have observed the shooting, officials said.
The girls were taken to Children's Memorial Hospital for treatment, according to a Chicago Fire Department spokesman.
Several shaken and dazed families congregated at the intersection of West School Street and North Drake Avenue late into the evening as police tape blocked off the 3500 block of West School Street.
Some community members said they were attending a CAPS meeting at the park when the shots rang out and they ducked for cover.
Area resident JoAnn Trainer said that as adults scrambled to usher scattering children inside to safety, she looked out of a window and saw a man holding a little girl who had been shot in the back.
"I'm disgusted. We keep saying it's going to happen," Trainer said. "It's not the first time there's been shooting at this park, and unfortunately it takes something like this -- a child has to be hurt -- before they get more police here."
Neighbor Tiffany Statkiewicz and her three kids were outside playing when they heard shots, then saw a purple van speeding away from the scene.
Statkiewicz said she cried after they raced to the area and discovered what happened.
"My kids come here and play and now I have this feeling that I don't want them to play there anymore," she said. "It used to be: You're not going to the park by yourself. Now it's like, even if I go, what good is it going to do?"
Trainer said that she and her neighbors have long lobbied for increased security in the area, but to no avail.
"It falls on deaf ears," she said. "Until something bad happens, Avondale is the forgotten neighborhood."
Police declined to release information on the suspect, and said it is a continuing Area 5 investigation.
UPDATE
Cops question several people in shooting.
Police were questioning several people this morning about the shooting of two young girls who apparently were caught in crossfire at a Northwest Side playlot near where a community policing meeting was being held, officials say.
A 2-year-old suffered a graze wound to the head and a 7-year-old was shot in the upper back at about 7:50 p.m. Wednesday in the 3500 block of West School Street near Avondale Park, police said.
Someone got out of a van in an alley on Drake and fired shots at a group of people playing basketball, according to Albany Park District Cmdr. Melissa Staples. Someone apparently flashed gang signs before the shooting, police said.
Police initially said a suspect was taken into custody, but this morning officials would only say they were questioning several people, including witnesses.
Several residents, shaken and angry, gathered at the intersection of West School Street and North Drake Avenue late into the evening as police tape blocked off the 3500 block of West School Street. Some community members said they were attending a CAPS police meeting at the park when shots rang out and they ducked for cover.
As adults scrambled to usher scattering children to safety, JoAnn Trainer said she looked out a window and saw a man holding a little girl who had been shot in the back.
"I'm disgusted. We keep saying it's going to happen," Trainer said. "It's not the first time there's been shooting at this park, and unfortunately it takes something like this -- a child has to be hurt -- before they get more police here."
Tiffany Statkiewicz and her three kids were outside playing when they heard the shots, then saw a purple van speeding away.
Statkiewicz said she cried after racing to the area. "My kids come here and play and now I have this feeling that I don't want them to play there anymore," she said. "It used to be, you're not going to the park by yourself. Now it's like, even if I go, what good is it going to do?"
Trainer said she and her neighbors have long lobbied for increased security in the area, but to no avail.
"It falls on deaf ears," she said. "Until something bad happens, Avondale is the forgotten neighborhood."
SHOOTING OCCURED IN THE 17th DISTRICT Beat 1732 (Jan. 1, 2011-April 31, 2011)
Shooting- 1
Homicide- 0
Drug Arrests- 42
Robbery- 14
Gun Arrests-1
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