Two Swim Team Members Robbed, One Of Them Shot Outside Lindblom High School
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two teenagers who are on the boys' swim team at Lindblom Math & Science Academy High School in West Englewood were robbed and one of them was shot in the chest Tuesday evening outside the school, as they were getting back from a swim meet.
On Wednesday night, the school was beefing up security. Meanwhile, some said added parking might be the answer.
As CBS 2's Tara Molina reported, Area South detectives said the shooting was random. They did not have anyone in custody Wednesday night, but CBS 2 News has learned the student who was shot is home recovering.
Police said a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy were on the sidewalk outside the school at 61st Street and Wolcott Avenue around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, headed to a parked car after the swim meet.
A black car pulled up to the two boys, police said. Two men got out and demanded their property at gunpoint.
The 17-year-old boy started to run away, and one of the robbers shot him in the chest. He was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in fair condition.
The 15-year-old boy was not injured.
The robbers fled the scene.
Sources said the victims are both members of the Lindblom swim team, and had just returned to school from a swim meet at the time.
Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) said the boy who was shot was recovering at home Wednesday night.
"The school counselor was with him almost the entire time he was at the hospital," Lopez said.
Meanwhile, parents, staff, and city officials came together to talk safety and solutions.
"The great takeaway from this is the quick response from the students and the parents wanting answers, so that we don't have to have this discussion again," Lopez said.
Late Wednesday, CBS 2 found police on every corner around the school's campus, and more safe passage monitors out. Students said they saw a much larger presence all day.
But Ald. Lopez said the long-term focus is on a larger police presence during after-school activities and safer, more secure parking.
"They have 80 parking spots for students and staff that are on a first-come first-serve basis. Obviously, in a school of 1,300, half of them being commuters, that's going to go really quickly," Lopez said. "So that's going to be the challenge going forward."]
In an email, Chicago Public Schools spokeswoman Emily Bolton said "we take this incident very seriously and are coordinating with CPD on the investigation as well as having extra police presence to support student safety."
Molina asked CPS about possible changes to parking at the school to make it safer. When she hears back, we will update this story.
