Chicago — Two people, including an off-duty Cook County correctional officer, were shot outside a South Loop nightclub, officials said. The shooting occurred just a few feet from where two men were fatally shot in September.
A 27-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man were on a sidewalk in the first block of East Cermak when the gunman shot at them from a dark-colored pickup truck on the opposite side of Cermak Road at 12:55 a.m., police said. A few bullets hit the windows of nearby businesses, but no one else was hurt.
The male victim, who is a correctional officer, was driven to Stroger Hospital. Police said he was in serious condition with gunshot wounds to his back and arms.
EMS took the woman to the University of Chicago Hospital in fair condition with gunshot wounds to her legs and a graze wound on her ear.
A Chicago Police Department surveillance camera captured the shooting. According to witnesses, investigators were concentrating their efforts outside Hue nightclub, 67 East Cermak.
Last September, two men were killed in a shooting outside Windy City Ribs & Whiskey, which listed the same street address as Hue. Prosecutors have charged a man named Andre Nelson in connection with that shooting.
The events leading up to last year’s shooting began early on September 10 while Nelson and his longtime friend, Luis Delgado, were at Windy City Ribs & Whiskey.
Delgado, 40, began arguing with another man, 30-year-old Andre Deal, outside the restaurant, leading Delgado and Nelson to show that they had firearms, prosecutor Christopher Nugarus said during Nelson’s bail hearing.
After the men put their guns away, Deal punched Delgado, and the men began to fight physically, according to Nugarus. During the altercation, Delgado drew his weapon again and fired a shot, but the bullet flew through the restaurant window and did not strike anyone, according to Nugarus. Deal eventually put Delgado into a headlock and wrestled him to the ground.
At that point, Nugarus said, Nelson walked up behind Deal and shot him twice in the back. One of the bullets passed entirely through Deal and entered Delgado’s back. The round severed Delgado’s spinal cord and instantly paralyzed him, Nugarus said. Deal ran a short distance before collapsing. Both men died from gunshot wounds.
Nelson left the area on foot, but police identified him through video and other evidence, according to Nugarus.
As of Monday morning, Nelson remains jailed without bail.
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