Man fishing in Chicago River shot in the face after asked about gang affiliation, family says

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 23-year-old man was shot in the face and critically injured after fishing in the North Branch of the Chicago River Wednesday night, police said.

He has been identified by his family as Luis Franchi III.

His mom said he may have lost his vision in his left eye and said their lives will never be the same after this.

She said the park where he was shot is a place where they spend a lot of time, adding that her sons were just there at the wrong time.

"That's their thing they do in the summer," she said. "They go all over to different parks, different lakes. They Google who has the biggest fishes and when they put them in the pond."

The devastated Albany Park family is trying to understand how gang violence led to tragedy involving their son.

"This is a daily ordeal and it's complete nonsense," said Franchi's stepfather, Victor Torres.

Franchi was with his two brothers Wednesday night, fishing in the 3100-block of West Carmen Avenue near the North Branch of the Chicago River. His mom said they were wrapping up and headed to the car around 10:30 p.m. when a couple men approached them, asking what gang they're in.

"My one son is like, 'We are here fishing. We don't gangbang. We're not with none of that,' and they just both of them pulled out guns and they just started shooting up the whole car my boys were in," said Franchi's mother, Melissa Torres.

Melissa said her sons then ran away to a nearby McDonalds on Kedzie and Foster, leaving their bullet-riddled car at the scene.

That's where an ambulance took Franchi to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston. The 23 year old is now possibly blind in his left eye and has several gunshot wounds to his face.

"[I'm] hurt, angry, aggravated. Like why? Why do this to people that are innocent," Melissa said.

Chicago police also confirmed that Franchi is not known to them and he has no criminal record.

His mom said he's a plumber's apprentice who loves spending time outside playing baseball and fishing with his brothers. Now, his future filled with uncertainty.

"You know they just took that all away from him. Working and everything. We don't know if he's ever going to be able to work ever again," she said.

The family now praying for justice and hopes police can find the suspects. However, no arrests have been made to this point.

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