Two people were killed and seven others injured after a shooting broke out at Chicago’s Washington Park Tuesday evening following an altercation between two groups. Multiple shots were fired by both groups. More than 30 shell casings were recovered at the scene and crime tape surrounded a baseball diamond. Paramedics responded to East 51st Street and South Champlain Avenue All those involved in the violence were adults. The Fire Department said Tuesday four people were transported by ambulance – one woman and three men. One person was in fair-to-serious condition, and the others were in serious-to-critical condition.
The victims range in age from 19 years old to 46 years old. he wounded include: a 30-year-old man who sustained a gunshot wound to the left shin, a 39-year-old man shot in the right ankle, a 27-year-old woman shot in the upper left thigh, and a 22-year-old man suffering two gunshot wounds to the left elbow, and a 19-year-old man shot in the upper right shoulder. Chicago Police Deputy Chief Fred Melean said it was “another tragic incident.” No one was in custody as of Wednesday morning. The shooting happened two days before the UniverSoul Circus was set to kick off a twelve date residency at the park. “When the circus is operating they have more security there, we have staff that patrols the park, so the circus is safe to come to,” Chicago Police Deputy Chief Fred Melean said at a press conference. Police are offering a $15,000 reward for information in connection with the shooting. Chicago had recorded 469 murders so far in 2022, a 15% decrease from the same time last year, according to police statistics.
