1 man shot, critically hurt during argument inside Chicago South Side restaurant
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A 32-year-old man is hospitalized after he was shot inside a restaurant Friday night in Bridgeport.
It happened just before 11:30 p.m. inside the Wings and Rings sports restaurant, in the 3400 block of South Halsted Street.
The victim was inside the restaurant full of people when he was approached by two unknown men, and an argument ensued. One of the men pulled out a firearm and shot the victim several times before leaving the scene, according to police.
"It's a very quiet restaurant next door," said Alex, an employee of a nearby smoke shop. "A lot of traffic, especially since we're right next to the White Sox stadium."
The smoke shop has been there for the last eight years, and most of their clientele are regulars.
"We really don't see anything crazy going on, so within my eight years of working here, this is my first time seeing something like this happening next door," Alex said. "This is definitely a crazy incident that happened last night. And we just pray for the best, and we want peace for everybody."
Ald. Nicole Lee (11th) got a call from police about the incident.
"I received a call a little after midnight in the early hours of this morning notifying me of the shooting at the restaurant down the street," she said.
Police have not said if the shooting was random or targeted.
"I would hope that they had some sort of relationship, that there was a reason for the shooting," she said. "Not that there's a very real good reason to be shooting at anyone, let alone inside of a restaurant where there's other people. I thank God that nobody else was injured in the process as far as I know."
Police recovered weapons and placed dozens of evidence markers at the scene.
"It is really frightening now the number of incidents involving guns," Lee said. "Obviously this was a shooting, but we know that while murders and shooting might be down, the use of guns and the commission of crimes in this city feels very high right now."
Lee said she encourages residents and visitors to remain vigilant while helping police in situations like this.
"I want everybody, residents and anybody who will be coming to visit, to know that we are a safe neigbhorhood here, generally speaking," she said. "This was a very odd event to happen--and a very sad one. And as the 9th District and police usually do after incidents like this, there are increased patrols in the area."
The victim was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.
No arrests were made. Area 1 detectives are investigating.
