A shootout inside Washington Park left one man dead and 13 others injured Saturday night, according to Chicago police, putting it in a tie as the city’s worst shooting of the year.
Chicago police officers were already in the area monitoring a planned gathering in the park near the 5400 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue when multiple gunmen began shooting around 11:37 p.m., police said. Officers immediately reported “nonstop” gunfire over their radios as people ran for cover.
“They’re still shooting,” one officer said as the gunfire continued.
Officers quickly called for ambulances and began providing advanced first aid to the injured. Police also arrested one man at the scene and recovered a firearm, although it was not immediately clear whether he had fired any shots.
CPD called in additional officers from other districts to help manage the large crowd that had gathered in the park, with a police supervisor asking a dispatcher to “Gimme everybody.”
Officers recovered shell casings from several types of firearms, including rifle rounds, from the scene. A witness also reported seeing a man flee the area carrying a rifle.
Justin Peters, founder of Chitown Crimechasers, said initial indications were that the gathering was an annual picnic that had been on hiatus for some time before returning this year.
CPD said a 35-year-old man who suffered multiple gunshot wounds was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
The other victims included:
- A 34-year-old man who was shot in the right shoulder and was in good condition.
- A 39-year-old man who was shot in the right leg and arm and was in good condition.
- A 40-year-old woman who was shot in the right shoulder and was in good condition.
- A 45-year-old woman who was shot in the left leg and was in good condition.
- A 26-year-old woman who suffered gunshot wounds to the chest and was in good condition.
- A 42-year-old man who was shot in the leg and was in good condition.
- A 47-year-old woman in serious condition
- A 23-year-old woman in fair condition
- A 43-year-old woman in fair condition
- A 21-year-old woman in fair condition
A 37-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man and a 35-year-old man were also shot, but their conditions and specific injuries were not immediately available, police said in a preliminary media statement.
The CTA rerouted buses while officers collected evidence and investigated the shooting.
The shooting is the second this year to claim 14 victims. On June 19, at least two gunmen in a vehicle opened fire on a large crowd in the 200 block of West 95th Street, CPD said. Witnesses told police that a red SUV pulled alongside the crowd and two gunmen opened fire, with one shooting from the driver’s side and another from the passenger’s side. More than 100 shell casings were recovered, according to police. The gunmen fled eastbound on 95th Street, police said. No charges have been announced.
Editor’s note: This story was updated at 2 p.m. to reflect the addition of four more victims by CPD.
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