Chicago Laundromat Shooting Update: Police Say South Side Shooting That Left 7 Wounded Is Linked to Gangs
Chicago police are hunting for the culprit that fired shoots into a South Side Laundromat Monday night wounding seven people, including two teenagers.
According to the Huffington Post, at least six people were shot around 8:30 p.m. at the Sudz Coin Laundry, while a seventh person was injured fleeing the scene.
Four victims, including the 14 and 16-year-old teenagers, are in serious-to-critical condition at area hospitals, the Chicago Tribune reports. The other victims ranged in age from their 20s to 50s and are reported in good to critical condition. Most victims were shot in the leg or arm and everyone is expected to survive.
Police say gang violence is at the heart of the shooting, and that two of the victims were in or affiliated with gangs.
"At least a couple of them are gang members. Not all of them, but certainly pattern here indicates that it's probably likely gang violence at this point," Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said, according to CBS Chicago.
Detectives are using surveillance video from surrounding businesses and a nearby police blue light camera to help identify the gunman.
Jedidiah Brown, the pastor at Chosen Generation Church and a community activist, said the shooter was after someone specific who was among a group of people outside the Laundromat.
"There was an intended target in that crowd. That intended target ran in that Laundromat, and they pursued them in the Laundromat," he said.
Residents in the area say they are weary about living in the neighborhood.
"It's too dangerous to let my kids play around the neighborhood," said Matthew Gills, who lives across the street from the Laundromat, reports the Sun-Times. "That's all it is is gangs. Gangs, gangs, gangs, gangs, gangs. I don't even want to be in Chicago because it's too dangerous. I'm trying to move to Texas."