CHICAGO, IL — At least seven teenagers were shot in separate incidents across Chicago Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning, and one of the victims died, according to police. The shootings happened in several neighborhoods, including Little Village, South Austin, South Deering, the Far South Side and West Pullman.
Police said the fatal shooting happened in Little Village just before midnight. Other teens were wounded in multiple cases involving suspects firing from vehicles or people opening fire after getting out of a car.
Teen boy dies after shooting in Little Village
Police said 17-year-old Ricardo Gomez was shot about 11:11 p.m. in the 2600-block of South Hamlin Avenue. Friends said he was standing outside waiting for his girlfriend when a vehicle passed and a gunman inside opened fire.
Gomez was shot in the head and chest and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Outside the scene, his girlfriend and her mother placed candles in his memory.
Three teens wounded in South Austin shooting
A separate shooting in South Austin left three teenagers hurt about 9:29 p.m. in the 200-block of South Central Avenue, police said. Officers said the victims were standing outside when a dark-colored sedan drove by and shots were fired from inside.
An 18-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were both taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital in critical condition. A third victim, a 16-year-old boy, was found with a graze wound to the arm and declined treatment at the scene.
Two more teens shot on the South and West sides
Police said a 16-year-old girl was shot in the left foot about 12:37 a.m. in the 10600-block of South Bensley Avenue in South Deering. She was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and was listed in good condition.
On the Far South Side, a 17-year-old boy was shot in the legs about 10:16 p.m. in the 13200-block of South St. Lawrence Avenue. He was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in serious condition. In West Pullman, a 16-year-old boy was wounded about 8:23 p.m. in the 11700-block of South Normal Avenue and was listed in good condition after being treated for arm and stomach wounds.
Violence comes as schools prepare to reopen
Anti-violence activist Pastor Donovan Price said the shootings are especially troubling as the school year starts again. He said families can help reduce risk by walking children to school, taking them to school or talking with them on the way.
The incidents add to a night of violence that police said involved multiple teens and several different scenes across the city. Investigators have not released further details in the other shootings.
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