Chicago, Illinois – A tragic shooting outside a family gathering on the South Side on Saturday night left eleven people injured, including a young girl who tragically lost her life in what authorities suspect was gang-related violence, Chicago police stated on Sunday.
Among the victims were four children, with an 8-year-old girl fatally shot in the head, a 1-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy in critical condition from multiple gunshot wounds, and a 9-year-old boy with a graze wound to his finger, all hospitalized, according to police reports.
The number of shooting victims was updated from 8 to 11 in a statement released by the police department on Sunday, providing new details about the ages of the victims compared to the information given at a news conference the previous night.
As of Sunday, no suspects were in custody in connection with the shooting, which unfolded when shots were fired at a crowd gathered outside a family event around 9 pm on Saturday, stated Department Deputy Chief Don Jerome during a press briefing.
Jerome emphasized that the violence was not random but likely gang-related, condemning the perpetrators for their “horrific and unacceptable” actions in the city.
Police officers who responded to the gunfire alert acted swiftly, applying life-saving measures such as tourniquets and chest seals to the victims, which included adults ranging from 19 to 40 years old, reported Jerome. A 36-year-old man shot in the arms and back remained in critical condition, while the other adults were in stable condition, as per police updates.
An ongoing investigation revealed that witnesses recounted a black sedan driving towards the crowd, with an individual firing shots before fleeing the scene, according to police reports. Jerome also mentioned witness accounts describing the possible presence of two shooters on foot during the incident.