Woman killed, 6 others hurt in shooting on West Side
CHICAGO (CBS) – Chicago police are investigating a deadly shooting on the city's West Side early Sunday morning.
The shooting happened near Iowa and Cicero in the Austin neighborhood around 1 a.m.
Police say it all started when a large group was gathered to celebrate the life of a man who was killed in a car crash four years ago. There was an argument then multiple people opened fire.
A 25-year-old woman was discovered by officers lying on the ground unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. She was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital where she was pronounced dead.
"I think somebody came from this end of the alley shooting, shooting at the crowd that they seen. A lot of them returned fire and all type of chaos happened," said a friend of the woman who was killed. The witness did not want to be identified. "You can't even describe it. You heard the shots go off and everybody hit the ground, and then more shots went off. More shots went off, and people start screaming, 'I'm hit, I'm hit.'"
A 17-year-old girl was shot in the leg and taken to West Suburban Hospital in good condition.
Five others were taken to Stroger Hospital. A 27-year-old man was shot in the leg and was taken in good condition. A 29-year-old man was shot in the chest and arm in critical condition. Another 29-year-old man was shot in the arm and is in good condition. A 28-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound in the ear and was in good condition. A 28-year-old man was shot in the leg and arm and was in good condition.
Detectives on scene said they recovered more than 100 shell casings early Sunday morning. Several hours later, they found more.
The friend says he helped those who were shot.
"Just trying to get everybody hit to the cars and get them to the hospital as quick as we can," he said.
"They were out there celebrating and then something happened," said Eduardo Gutierrez, CPD acting deputy chief for Area Four. "A verbal altercation occurred, and somebody began shooting or multiple people began shooting."
"The guy birthday who we were celebrating, that was his girlfriend," said the witness. "So she died on the day of his birthday celebration."
Neighbors are now left with vehicles hit by bullets lining the street. One vehicle was left with a back window blown out.
"Chicago ain't Chicago no more," the friend said. "You get immune to it. You see it so much. You go through it so much."
The friend of the victims said he now suffers from PTSD because of the shooting.
No arrests were made.
Anyone with information is asked to call police.
