Police are questioning one person in connection with a road rage shooting near Grant Park that left an infant boy in grave condition with a brain injury Tuesday morning, according to CPD. It is not yet known who that person is or what their suspected involvement is.
The boy, who police said is 21-months-old, was riding in the back seat of a white Lincoln MKS when someone in the car got into a confrontation with another driver over a lane change on northbound Lake Shore Drive near Soldier Field around 11:07 a.m.
Witnesses said the driver of an SUV fired into the Lincoln as the cars traveled north. Some witnesses said shots were also fired from the car that the boy was in. Police found at least eight shell casings strewn along the drive between Roosevelt and Buckingham Fountain.
A dashcam video in another vehicle captured part of the incident and allowed police to broadcast a detailed description of the man who shot into the Lincoln.
The car carrying the boy crashed into another vehicle at Monroe. From there, a passing motorist drove the boy to Northwestern Memorial Hospital along with a man and woman who were in the front seats, according to a CPD report. A source said the woman is the boy’s grandmother, and the man is her boyfriend.
Police allegedly recovered a handgun from the boyfriend at Northwestern, although it is not known if he is licensed to carry it. Officers seized the weapon and took him into custody. The boy was transferred from Northwestern to Lurie Children’s Hospital for treatment.
“The child sustained a bullet wound to his head and he is in very critical condition,” Dr. Marcelo Malakooti, the medical director of Lurie’s pediatric intensive care unit, said Tuesday afternoon. “We are doing all we can do for this little boy and thank everyone for their concern.”
Malakooti said the boy was on a ventilator in “grave” condition.
CPD issued a statement Tuesday afternoon that said detectives were questioning one person about the shooting, but it is not clear if they are referring to the grandmother’s boyfriend or if another suspect has been located.
Police originally said the boy was 3-years-old, then changed their information to 2-years before updating it to 21 months on Tuesday evening.