Chicago police said the shooting happened near East 65th Street and South Blackstone Avenue in the city's Woodlawn neighborhood just before 2 p.m.
Police said the two victims, a 22-year-old man and 4-year-old boy, were inside a gray Hyundai sedan when people in a passing vehicle shot at them.
CPD said the man was shot in the chest and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition, and the 4-year-old was shot multiple times in the groin area.
Officers pulled the the child from the vehicle, and he was transported to Comer Children's Hospital, where he underwent surgery. Both victims were in serious condition.
Bullet casings were seen spread out throughout the intersection as investigators assessed the scene. A victim advocate ABC7 spoke with said the family of the young child, understandably, is in shock.
"They're a great family, a loving family," said Pastor Donovan Price.
Price sat down with the family after boy's surgery.
"They're just in shock. Everybody's in shock is trying to figure it out. A deer in a terrible, tragic set of headlights," Price said. "One minute you're driving, you're eating, you're having fun, you're laughing, you're talking, and the next minute, your life is all tears and fear."
It's still not known what may have led up to this shooting. Police said so far, no one is in custody.
This story initially said three people were injured in the shooting based on information from the Chicago Fire Department.
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