West Rogers Park shooting sends restaurant patrons running for cover as 2 in car wounded: VIDEO

ByJessica D'Onofrio and Christian Piekos WLS logo
Tuesday, February 14, 2023
VIDEO: North Side shooting sends restaurant patrons running for cover
Chicago police said two people were wounded in a shooting outside the Pride Sushi and Thai restaurant that sent patrons running for cover Sunday.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Pride Sushi and Thai is open once again on Monday after a late Sunday night shooting outside the West Rogers Park restaurant sent patrons ducking for cover.

Those who live and work in the area said Sunday night's violence is forcing them to become more vigilant while police continue to look for answers.

"All of a sudden, we heard six shots," said West Rogers Park resident Wahaj Khan.

Khan said he was in his apartment kitchen, getting ready to call it a day, when gunfire erupted nearby in the 2700 block of West Peterson Avenue.

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"This is pretty scary, because it does not happen often," Khan said.

Dramatic surveillance video from inside Pride Sushi and Thai shows guests hitting the deck for safety as shots rang out.

No one inside the restaurant was injured, but a bullet pierced the front window, shattering the glass.

Chicago police said the gunfire came from a passing car, when someone inside a sedan started shooting.

Police said two men in their early 20s were wounded in a car, and were taken to local hospital in good and fair condition.

"It's just disheartening. People are just trying to eat," said Sarah Grossman, who works in West Rogers Park.

The restaurant reopened Monday as those who live and work in the area are once again questioning their safety.

"The fact that we are at a place where you can't even go out to eat without the fear that something could happen and you have to run for cover because there could be a shooting outside your window. It's scary," Grossman said.

Meanwhile, there is a daycare right next door to the restaurant. Little Harvard Academy owner Miguel Ortiz said the shooting and recent crimes have scared teachers and parents.

"We put up the cameras recently," Ortiz said. "Other than that, there's not much else I can do. I can't afford private security. It's a small center."

Alderman Andre Vasquez, who represents the 40th Ward, said the community needs to work together to reduce violence.

"Whether it's CPD, whether it's Violence Interrupters, whether it's gang intervention teams, it takes all hands on deck to make sure we solve the problem," Vasquez said.

Vasquez also said the shooting does not appear to be random.

"From my understanding, it appeared to be more of a targeted situation than a random, so we communicate that out to neighbors because it's easy to have the fear that no matter where you're walking in Chicago, something's gonna happen," Vasquez said.

He and police are asking anyone with information to come forward as CPD says no one is in custody.

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