Chicago shooting: 2 shot, 1 killed, in South Loop
CHICAGO (CBS) – Two 18-year-old men were shot in the South Loop, and one of them was killed, on Thursday afternoon.
The crime scene happened steps away from a the Central (1st) District police station – and minutes after a nearby school was dismissed.
Police said the victims were in a car in the 2000 block of South State Street, near Cullerton Street, around 3:30 p.m. – when they were approached by a stolen Kia and an occupant fired several rounds.
One of the young men was struck in the hand and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital initially reported in good condition. The other was struck to the body and taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, where he was pronounced dead.
Police recovered the Kia, which was unoccupied, near Cermak Road and State Street near the Red Line.
As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, State Street at the time was bustling with people walking – and those students just released for dismissal.
A bullet hole was seen in the windshield of a black Jeep at the scene. The passenger door was left open with shattered glass.
"I heard about four or five gunshots," said Lena Phillips. "When I looked out the window, I looked to the north of me, and I saw a gentleman getting up off the ground."
Phillips lives near State and Cullerton streets. She originally thought the man was injured, but she learned the person who dropped to the ground was trying to stay safe and avoid the gunfire while walking in the South Loop.
"Obviously, he was dropping to the ground for coverage – and I saw him get up and walk away," Phillips said.\
Phillips said she later saw police tape put up around the scene and was told someone was killed.
Meanwhile, witnesses said after the stolen Kia involved in the shooting crashed, several people jumped out and left it running. Police told us the crew inside the white Kia had stolen it.
We don't know if the Kia was stolen in a carjacking – but we do know those who ran off did not leave any weapons behind.
But a community was left in disbelief – and a family is grieving.
No one was in custody late Thursday. Police have not released any images or description of the shooters who took off running.
It remained unclear Thursday night who the victims were, or whether they were the intended targets.
Area 3 detectives are investigating the shooting.
