Crowded CTA bus struck by gunfire in Bronzeville; 1 woman injured, police say
A crowded CTA bus was struck by bullets on Friday afternoon in the Bronzeville neighborhood, leaving one passenger injured.
Police said, around 3:50 p.m., someone fired shots near the intersection of King Drive and Pershing Road, striking a 37-year-old woman on a nearby CTA bus.
Keith Hill, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 241, which represents CTA bus drivers, said the bus was driving on its route down King Drive when it appeared to drive into crossfire. Several shots came toward the bus and at least two bullets went through the bus.
Along with the driver, the union president estimated 40 to 60 people were on the bus at the time. Most of them were students from a nearby high school, sources told CBS News Chicago.
Approximately 15 shots were fired in total. The gunfire sent people running for cover. At least one bullet also struck a nearby home, close to its doorbell camera.
Chicago police said a 37-year-old woman was struck in the leg and taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, initially reported in good condition.
Hill said the driver and passengers are very shaken up by the incident.
A source told CBS News Chicago that a CTA security patrol was driving alongside the bus on King Drive, and both witnessed and also got caught on that crossfire. No one in the security patrol was struck.
Eyewitness Eric Lewis said he saw the shooters fleeing the scene.
"Made a U-turn in the middle of the street, and the kids just running back this way, but I seen a young man with a gun in his hand, and I was trying to chase him. Then he cut through the alley, cut through the gangway, cut through this alley, and then ran diagonally," Lewis said.
Police were looking for between two and four shooters. It was unclear who they were targeting.
Investigators were checking for surveillance video footage of the shooting from nearby homes and businesses.
The southbound lanes of King Drive remained blocked at Pershing Road as of 6 p.m. as police continued to investigate.