5 Dead, 22 Wounded In Weekend Shootings Across Chicago

(STMW) -- Five people were killed and at least 22 others have been wounded in separate shootings across Chicago since Friday night.

In the most recent fatal shooting, two men were killed about 11:20 a.m. Sunday in the West Side Austin neighborhood, according to Chicago police. The men, ages 34 and 46, were standing in the 200 block of South Laramie when two people walked up and fired shots at the younger man. Both men suffered gunshot wounds to their bodies. The shooters then drove off southbound in a silver or gray SUV. Deputy Chief Al Nagode said one of the victims was believed to be a member of a nearby church. The younger man was taken to Stroger Hospital, and the older man was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. Both men were then pronounced dead.

Earlier Sunday, a man was shot to death at 6:52 a.m. in the Uptown neighborhood on the North Side, police said. The man, thought to be 25 years old, was in the 1000 block of West Montrose when a black vehicle approached and someone wearing a black hooded sweatshirt got out and opened fire, striking him twice in the torso. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he died.

Shortly before 12:30 a.m. Sunday, a 27-year-old woman was gunned down in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on the South Side. Officers responded to a call of shots fired and found the woman lying on the sidewalk in the 1400 block of West 54th Street. The woman had been shot in the neck and legs and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where she died, police said.

Less than an hour earlier, a 20-year-old man was shot to death in the Old Town neighborhood. The 20-year-old was involved in a fight with two other males at 12:07 a.m. in the 1300 block of North Hudson when one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and opened fire, police said. The man was shot in the head and taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Cook County medical examiner's office did not immediately release information about the fatalities.

The five homicides were among 11 people shot in a spate of violence between midnight and noon Sunday.

The weekend's latest nonfatal shooting happened about 1:50 p.m. in the South Side Back of the Yard neighborhood. Two men, ages 26 and 28, were on a front porch in the 5300 block of South Hoyne when two people approached and fired shots. The younger man was shot in his left arm and taken to St. Bernard Hospital, while the older man was taken to Holy Cross Hospital with a gunshot wound to his ankle. Both their conditions were stabilized, police said.

Nearly six hours earlier, a man was wounded in a shooting at 8 a.m. in the Portage Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side. The 21-year man was riding in a car in the 4000 block of North Central when he started arguing with another male who pulled out a handgun and opened fire, grazing his right buttock. He refused medical attention, but was said to be in good condition. The 22-year-old shooter was taken into custody, police said.

At least 19 others have been wounded in shootings across the city since 11:30 p.m. Friday.

In addition, an off-duty Chicago Police sergeant shot a man at 5:06 a.m. Sunday in the Morgan Park neighborhood on the Far South Side. The officer shot the 18-year-old during an "armed confrontation" in the 11100 block of South Hermosa. The man was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where his condition was stabilized.

Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson said the officer first spotted the man "acting suspiciously" in the 10000 block of South Wood. When the officer began to question the man, the man became elusive.

Johnson acknowledged he did not have all the information, and he simply told reporters the incident "escalated in some way," prompting the officer to shoot the man.

"We still have many unanswered questions," Johnson said.

Last weekend, three people were killed and 27 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2017. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)