14 Shot, including 3 Children, In Drive-By Shooting In Chicago

At least 14 people were shot during a drive-by shooting in Chicago Monday night where people had gathered for a vigil, according to Chicago Police. The vigil was for a grandmother who died of natural causes.

A 3-year-old boy, an 11-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were among those shot, police said.  The other victims ranged in age from 31 to 56, police said.


Two people traveling in a dark SUV opened fire on Halloween night at people on the corner of California Avenue and Polk Street around 9:30 p.m. before the vehicle was driven away, police said.

Officers also explained that a 15th person – a woman – suffered scrapes when a vehicle struck her as she tried to flee from the site.

“It’s over by three seconds,” Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said outside Stroger Hospital, where many of the wounded were taken. “The car’s pulling out after driving by and shooting randomly into the crowd.”

“We do not have any motive,” he said, adding that officers believe there were two shooters.

The victims’ conditions were described as critical for two, serious for five, good for six, and unknown for one, police said Tuesday morning.

“A group of young kids on the east end of the block stand in the street and pull guns out and won’t let you pass,” said a person who’s familiar with the 2700 block of West Flournoy Street in East Garfield Park.

“It’s a terrible block. Just horrible,” said the person, who asked not to be identified. Gunfire is a daily occurrence, the person added. When the police come, they get yelled at and spit on.

Alderman and chairman of the City Council’s Black Caucus, Jason Ervin said he plans to convene a meeting of “Black leadership” on Saturday at Manley Career Academy High School, 2935 W. Polk. He said he hopes the meeting will produce a “unified cohesive plan of action for our community.”

A reward of up to $15,000 is being offered for information leading to charges or conviction. Anyone with information was asked to submit a tip to cpdtip.com.