Teens among at least 7 people hurt in 2 shootings on same Garfield Park block, Chicago police say

CHICAGO (WLS) — Teenagers were among seven people injured in two shootings on Chicago’s West Side early Sunday, police said.

Neighbors said the shooting followed what they described as the second “teen takeover” in the area in just over two weeks.

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Video shared with ABC7 captured apparent gunshots ringing out during a large gathering in the Garfield Park neighborhood’s 3800-block of West Maypole Avenue.

Police said a 17-year-old girl was shot while standing outside on that block around 1:25 a.m. The girl, shot in the chest, was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

Minutes later, around 1:34 a.m., at least six people were hit by gunfire in the same block, police said.

Two 17-year-old boys were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition. One was shot in the leg, and the other was shot in the neck.

An 18-year-old woman, shot in the buttocks and arm, was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

An 18-year-old man, shot in the leg, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.

A 19-year-old man, shot in the foot, was taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition.

A 20-year-old man, shot in the body multiple times, was transported to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.

Cell phone video taken minutes before the shooting shows a large gathering of young people setting off fireworks and blocking a small cul-de-sac street just off Garfield Park.

“Underage kids. Drinking, smoking. They found guns. They started shooting,” said Etta Johnson, who lives in the neighborhood.

Another resident, Thomas Johnson, described the chaos from inside the community

“We, the citizens here, we’re held captive,” he said.

Residents said the gathering began early, just after 10 p.m., and shared photos and videos showing crowds filling the street. Several said a similar incident occurred recently.

“It was unbearable. they are standing out. They are jumping on cars,” said Connie Mitchell, a Garfield Park resident. “We just had this happen, Juneteenth. They did it then.”

Trinisa Williams said she repeatedly contacted police as the crowd grew.

“My first call to police was at 10:52 p.m. I called pretty much every 15 minutes after that,” she said.

Police were already on the scene when the shooting erupted. Audio from police communications captured reports of multiple shooters at a large gathering near Maypole Avenue.

“The police are always outnumbered. But this was by far the worst. They couldn’t stop them,” Etta Johnson said.

Williams said accountability remains a major concern for residents. “The fact that no one is being held accountable is my biggest problem with that,” she said.

Neighbors said they feel exhausted and unsure how to stop the repeated gatherings.

“These kids think they are not touchable. They say you can’t do anything to them. you can’t touch them,” Mitchell said. “We’re begging. We’re pleading. we’re begging for help religiously. We have done everything we’re supposed to do.”

Justin Peters with violence interrupter group Chitown Crime Chasers says his team was on the scene alongside Chicago Police before the shooting began

“We saw a lot of people started running so we started to point the crowd in another direction to run to while me and my team were rushing towards the gunshots to find the victims and we located several teenage victims shot in the alley,” Peters said. “This is where the community must step in and parents must step in. Other organizations must step in to help so we can all work together,”

Alderman Jason Ervin of the 28th Ward denounced the gathering and called for those who organized it to be held responsible.

“I look forward to the police department and the City of Chicago’s Law Department going after these individuals. Because again, it’s not your personal playground. The street is not your personal playground,” Ervin said.

Ervin said police detained about a dozen people following the shooting, but no charges have been filed so far. Chicago police said the investigation is ongoing.

Alderman Brian Hopkins, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee has long argued the city needs stronger tools to prevent crowds from spiraling out of control.

“The police were already there, they were on the scene at this event, and that didn’t stop teenagers from taking guns out and shooting each other, even having the presence of visible squad cars right there,” Hopkins said. “Incidents like this just highlight even more the need for a good, effective police response. They need every tool that we can give them, including enforcing curfew.”

At about 1:48 a.m., a man was found shot to death just over 1 mile away, in the West Garfield Park neighborhood’s 4300-block of West Van Buren Street.

Police did not immediately say whether the three incidents are connected or what may have led up to the shootings.

Area Four detectives are investigating. Police did not immediately provide further information.

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