Chicago — A man escaped injury after at least two gunmen opened fire on him as he left a Mariano’s in West Town on Sunday evening, the same grocery store where a man was shot to death two weeks ago. Chicago police believe the two crimes are related, according to law enforcement sources.
The latest incident occurred around 5:40 p.m. as the 31-year-old victim loaded groceries into his Jeep Compass outside Mariano’s, 2021 West Chicago Avenue. The gunmen shot at the man from another vehicle, striking his Jeep more than 20 times, but he escaped injury, according to a Chicago police report. A passerby told CWB Chicago they counted 45 shell casings at the scene.
Investigators believe the offenders fled the scene in a black Cadillac XT4 that was stolen in Logan Square about a week ago, one source said.
Officers found shell casings from two weapons, including a rifle, at the scene.
A rifle was also used in the December 19 shooting, which left 37-year-old Darian Neal Sr. dead on the second floor of the Mariano’s parking garage.
Neal was sitting in his Nissan Maxima when two men stepped out of another car and fired more than 30 rounds.
The killers fled the scene in a large black SUV with out-of-state plates. They remain at large.
