Avondale gun battle that injured innocent bystander caught on camera

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Alderwoman Ruth Cruz, who represents the 30th Ward, said the shooting stemmed from a fight that broke out after a car crash.

Cruz said her office is in constant contact with police because this area is a known hotspot.

During Mexican Independence Day festivities on Sept. 16, a shooting took place in the Avondale neighborhood, leaving a man seriously injured.

Surveillance video of the incident was just released by Chicago police on Wednesday.

It shows men walking in the 3600 block of West Belmont Avenue. At one point, people started running, and one person, who CPD identified as the gunman, tripped a man who ran past him.

Within seconds, more people appeared in the frame, and then begin ducking and running as if responding to gunfire.

Justin Apple heard the gunshots. It happened just outside of his house.

"It bothered me for a while afterwards. Still hard to think about because you could be standing there and that could happen," Apple said.

According to Cruz, a crash led to a verbal altercation between occupants of one of the vehicles and people standing on the street.

It then led to a so-called running gun battle. The man who was shot was an innocent bystander waiting for the bus.

Police are looking for three men in particular, and asked anyone with information to contact them.

"Very scary. Just the accident alone, then the violence afterwards," Apple said.

Cruz said the man who was shot in his leg has recovered, and has received counseling through victims services. In the meantime, Chicago police said, they are still searching for the suspects.

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