Two Children Shot In East Garfield Park After Back To School Picnic

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Two children were shot right after a back to school picnic ended on the West Side on Saturday afternoon, and are in good condition at Rush hospital.

The 12-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl were standing outside a Citgo gas station in the 2900 block of West Fulton in the East Garfield Park neighborhood when somebody drove past and started shooting.

The boy sustained a graze wound to the hip, and the girl was struck in the calf and ankle. At the hospital, police tape was draped over a car that had been struck by gunfire.

Lemar Peterson, said his daughter, Ayonna, and his step son were shot, and he drove them to the hospital. "I was packing things into my vehicle when I heard what sounded to me like fireworks," Peterson said.  ""I just heard the worst thing a daughter could say to her father., Daddy I've been shot.' Now she's in the hospital."

"The girl has four bullet holes in her right now was giving away free cotton candy."

He said a local rapper who was helping at the party was the target of the shooting. Police said a man, 25, self transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds to the body, and was initially reported in good condition.

"These guys wanted to do something to ruin the event," Peterson said. "This was the community coming together."

Crime scene tape and evidence markers surrounded deflated bounce houses after the shooting.  Before that, tables were filled with cookies, cotton candy and drinks for the children as music pulsed in the parking lot.  Community volunteers were passing out free book bags.

"We were almost wrapped ... and somebody shot at the kids,"  said Samer, who was one of the organizers of the party at the Citgo gas station.  'This is really crazy, we are trying to spread the love.  Thank god nobody got killed."

There are no offenders in custody and area detectives are investigating.