Two 16-Year-Olds Killed In West Side Shooting
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two teen boys were killed and a third was wounded in a Thursday afternoon shooting in the West Side Humboldt Park neighborhood.
The three 16-year-old boys were shot about 12:50 p.m. in the 600 block of North Avers Avenue, police News Affairs Officer Daniel O'Brien said, citing preliminary information.
Two of the boys were killed and a third was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in an unidentified condition, police said.
Cornell Ferguson, 16, of the 1400 block of North Central Avenue was pronounced dead on the scene at 1:45 p.m., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office. Johnqualus Turner, 16, of unknown address was pronounced dead at the scene at 1:45 p.m. as well.
Just hours after the teens were shot, the youngest members of a nearby church gathered to pray for the two boys killed.
Pastor Gary Barren says one of the young men killed was at his church just a few days before.
"We can live in this community without tragedies like that happening," he tells CBS 2's Marissa Bailey.
As the prayers continued, a memorial to the victims contained messages of memories, balloons, crosses and candles.
"I just want to say to this community if this don't encourage us to change nothing will," Barren said.
Circumstances surrounding the shooting were not immediately available.
Area North detectives are investigating, but no one was in custody as of Thursday evening.
Contributing: Sun-Times Media Wire (Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2012. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
