Chicago crime: Liquor store employee shot during armed robbery spree on Northwest Side, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Police are searching for a group of armed thieves who drove around Chicago's Northwest Side, targeting people in violent robberies in a matter of hours on Friday.

Investigators said one of the attacks ended with an employee shot at a liquor store in the Irving Park neighborhood. It was, at least, the ninth spot, police said, the group of thieves targeted within six hours.

Chicago police said just before 10:30 p.m., two masked and armed suspects entered Super Savings Food and Liquor in the 4400 bock of West Belmont Avenue.

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The store's owner told ABC7 that once the group got inside, they shot the employee manning the door. The 46-year-old victim was taken to Illinois Masonic Hospital, where he is expected to survive.

The thieves got away empty-handed, only to target their 10th victim minutes later.

"Heartbreaking, because I know them. I'm a customer there. They are very friendly," said customer Angel Rivera. "And, I just seen him yesterday. I just walked in last night."

It was back to business as usual on Saturday after the attempted robbery-turned-shooting on Friday evening, but loyal customers feel anything but usual about what happened.

"We haven't seen it this close, or heard about it being this close, so this is concerning," said Dan Salazar, who lives near the store. "I don't have one, but I guess, security cameras will probably be the next thing to do. That might be next, possibly, even moving out of the area, as well."

Instead of patrons, investigators were seen going in and out of Super Savings Food and Liquor overnight.

Less than 10 minutes after the shooting, police said, that same group robbed someone near Diversey and Central. In two of the attacks, police said, the victims were battered.

READ MORE | Chicago police issue alert after 12 armed robberies reported in 1 hour Thanksgiving morning

Investigators said the group drives around in a black Nissan Altima with Illinois license plate number BM86024.

"We're taxpayers. Don't we have a say so? Can't we roam freely with our phones without getting robbed at the train, or out in the street?" Rivera said.

The liquor store's owner told ABC7 police are looking at surveillance video as they continue to search for the culprits.

List of the of each incident and location:

-1800 North Block of Lorel Ave on November 24, 2023 @ 4:00PM

-1700 West Block of Beach Ave on November 24, 2023 @ 5:10PM

-3200 North Block of Cicero Ave on November 24, 2023 @ 5:56PM

-1800 North Block of Keeler Ave on November 24, 2023 @ 6:15PM

-4600 West Block of Irving Park Rd on November 24, 2023 @ 6:20PM

-4200 West Block of Kamerling Ave on November 24, 2023 @ 7:02PM

-6100 West Block of Diversey Ave on November 24, 2023 @ 9:47PM

-1300 West Block of Wicker Park Ave on November 24, 2023 @ 10:00PM

-4400 West Block of Belmont Ave on November 24, 2023 @ 10:24PM