1 CPS student killed, 2 wounded in broad-daylight shooting on Chicago's North Side
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Three boys who attended a nearby Chicago Public Schools high school were shot in broad daylight Wednesday afternoon in the Edgewater neighborhood -- and one of them was killed.
The shooting happened at 3:36 p.m. at 1253 W. Thorndale Ave., between Lakewood and Magnolia avenues. The block of Thorndale Avenue where the shooting occurred is lined with apartment buildings, and Trinity Church is also located nearby.
This shooting comes just five days after two teenage boys were shot and killed in broad daylight in the Loop.
The scene was a couple of blocks from Nicholas Senn High School, 5900 N. Glenwood Ave., where police said all the victims were students.
At a news conference Wednesday evening, Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said three teenage boys – all 15 or 16 years old – were walking along Thorndale Avenue when a vehicle pulled up, and several people got out with guns in hand and shot them all.
One of the teens was shot in the chest and died at Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. He was identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office as Daveon Gibson, 16, who lived in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.
Police said another 16-year-old boy was shot in the jaw, chest, and left forearm and was taken to Ascension St. Francis in "grave" condition.
The third victim, a 15-year-old boy, was shot in the right leg and was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition, police said.
Snelling said while the investigation continued Wednesday night, it is believed the victims were targeted.
At a news conference with Snelling Wednesday evening, Mayor Brandon Johnson denounced the violence that had transpired yet again in a Chicago community.
"The individuals who are responsible for this kind of violence – it has to end. The horror and chaos, and the trauma that's being caused by these individuals who do not value life – the full force of government will be used to bring these individuals to justice," Mayor Johnson said. "Whatever conflict and whatever pain you are experiencing, this is not the way to do it. The loss of life is tearing at the fabric of this city."
Police shut down Thorndale Avenue west of Broadway after the shooting, cordoning off several blocks with yellow police tape. Detectives were going door-to-door to several local businesses on Wednesday evening and searching for surveillance video.
Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th) on social media warned residents to avoid the area where the shooting happened while the investigation was underway.
Speaking to CBS 2, Manaa-Hoppenworth said in part, "As a mom of a teen, my heart breaks for the families impacted by this tragedy," and added, "Young people deserve more."
This is the second fatal shooting of students near a high school in less than a week.
On Friday of last week at 12:25 p.m., six students exited Innovations High School onto the first block of North Wabash Avenue when two vehicles – a dark-colored sedan and a sport-utility vehicle – pulled up.
Several people got out of the vehicles and opened fire, striking two of the students – Robert Boston, 16, and Monterio Williams, 17. Both the teens were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where they died.
Snelling said there is no evidence that the Loop shooting last week and the one in Edgewater Wednesday are connected.
But he said violent criminals who commit such brazen violent acts like both the shootings targeting teens must be held accountable – and everyone must work together to ensure that happens.
"We're seeing these brazen acts of violence against young people, against innocent bystanders, against innocent people, people who are on their way to work. We see shootings, robberies," said Snelling.
"It is important that we understand that people who are acting out violently in our city and committing violent acts against our citizens here in this city have to be held accountable. We have to hold them accountable. If we're not holding them accountable – especially with this level of brazenness – they will continue to do it."
Snelling said police have been paying particular attention to schools that have seen volatile incidents recently – at both arrival and dismissal. He said police will be upping their patrols at schools – including the ones involved in the most recent shootings.
"We have to push back against this type of violence, this type of craziness," Snelling said. "We have to protect our children. We have to protect the innocent here."
Police did not say the kind of car for which they are looking in connection with the Edgewater shooting. The matter remained under investigation late Wednesday.
There was no one in custody late Wednesday in the Edgewater shooting, nor in the shooting that killed the two teens last week downtown.
