Evanston Man Charged In Wrigleyville Shooting
(STMW) -- A north suburban man has been ordered held on a $1 million bond in connection with a shootout that prompted two Chicago Police officers to open fire early Sunday in Wrigleyville.
Ralph Banks, 19, of Evanston is charged with one felony count of aggravated discharge of a firearm, according to a statement from Chicago Police.
Just after 3 a.m., the officers were outside their vehicle interviewing someone on an unrelated call in the 1100 block of West Patterson when they heard gunfire and saw two groups of people shooting at each other at the intersection of Racine and Patterson, according to police. A CPD sergeant said between 15 and 20 people were involved.
As the officers ran toward the shots, two of the shooters were running eastbound on Patterson away from the initial gunfight and toward the officers, police said. Each officer fired one shot at them, but no one was hit, police said.
One of the shooters, later identified as Banks, was chased by responding officers and arrested, police said. A loaded .40 caliber handgun was also recovered.
The rest of the people involved in the shooting scattered.
Within the hour, a 26-year-old man showed up at Presence Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston with a gunshot wound to the upper back. He was listed in serious condition.
Police said he was wounded in the first exchange of shots and was not hit by either of the officers. They were investigating whether he was involved or if he was a bystander.
The crime scene stretched from Addison to Waveland between Patterson and Clark on Sunday morning. Witnesses said they heard dozens of shots ring out and their cars were hit by multiple bullets.
A woman's car was smashed and pushed onto a curb on Racine by what she assumed was a vehicle fleeing the scene.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
