Fisherman shot while walking to his car in Albany Park

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Chicago Police were looking for a suspect Thursday after a fisherman was shot walking back to his car in Albany Park the night before.

Police said the 23-year-old – identified by family as Luis Franchi – was walking back to his car, in the 3100 block of West Carmen Avenue around 10:30 p.m., when he was shot. He was shot in the face and taken to Ascension St. Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition. 

Despite his injures, Franchi was able to talk to police. He told them he was by the North Branch of the Chicago River when several men he did not know came up to him and started shooting.

On Thursday afternoon, Franchi was surrounded by his family at the hospital.

CBS 2's Noel Brennan met Franchi's sister, Ana Franchi, right before she left home for the hospital herself. Against a current of fear and worry, she remains steady.

"Just trying to hold up for right now," she said. "I have a mom and dad that looks up to me, so I have to be."

Ana Franchi talked with CBS 2's Brennan from her front step. Her next stop, of course, was St. Francis in Evanston.

"Everyone right now is at the hospital," she said. "Everybody right now is still shaky. They're still scared. They want more answers."

She said her brother Luis and two other brothers went fishing Wednesday night in the North Branch near Carmen and Albany avenues. She said the brothers often go fishing – but not often at night.

"They went to go fish like they always do every year," Ana Franchi said.  "They like fishing."

As the brothers returned to their car, Ana said the masked men came up to them. 

"They said that they heard two guys masked up saying, 'Where you guys from?'" Ana Franchi said. "My brothers, they don't gangbang. They don't do none of that. Nobody doesn't do none of that in our family. So my brothers just kept walking, you know?"

An estimated three seconds later, Ana said her brothers saw sparks from a gun – and Luis was shot in the face. Her brothers ran – but Luis collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.

"They just started taking off running while my brother was holding his head," Ana said. "He just collapsed at the corner of Foster and Kedzie and that's when police and ambulance arrived."

Luis remains in critical condition as his family fights against fear and worry.

"So if we lose him, it's hard," said Ana Franchi, "but yeah, I have to, like, be strong for them."

Chicago Police said several men ran from the scene. No one is in custody, and police are investigating.

Meanwhile, the entire Franchi family remained at the hospital late Thursday – hoping for the best.