Chicago shooting: Boy, 9, shot in Roseland among 268 kids wounded in Chicago gun violence this year

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A young child and a man were shot Friday afternoon in Roseland on Chicago's Far South Side.

Authorities responded to the shooting about 12:10 p.m. at E. 111th Street and S. Martin Luther King Drive, according to Chicago fire officials.

A child, about 9 years old, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and was taken to Comer Children's Hospital in serious condition, officials said. His condition has since stabilized.

Police said three men pulled up to the intersection of Martin Luther King Dr. and 111th St. in a gray SUV. Two of them got out and began firing shots.

A 22-year-old man was also hit in the leg. No information was immediately available on his condition.

Police said it appeared the 9-year-old was caught in the crossfire after leaving a store down the street. His mother was nearby when he was shot.

Police are looking for suspects at this point. They have not released any information about who may have been targeted or what the motive may have been.

Neighbors said they heard more than a dozen gunshots. Police combing the street for evidence identified a slew of shell casings, an indication of the number of shots fired.

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"This is ridiculous. It sounded like a roll of fireworks. All these kids were running down the street scared," witness Tasha Grout said.

Neighbors said this block has been the site of numerous shootings recently. Landis Williams lost his 39-year-old son, Christopher, to gunfire here last month. Police are still looking for the gunman in that case.

"I'd like to see them catch the ones who did this heinous act. I'd like them to catch the ones who killed my son on July 9th. I just want them prosecuted and put away," Williams said.

So far this year, 268 juveniles have been shot in Chicago, up 9% from 246 during the same period last year. From Jan. 1, 2021 to Friday, this year has had the most juveniles shot since 2016.

The number of juveniles fatally shot so far this year is 33, the same number year-to-date as 2020.

"I don't care if the kid is walking on the street. When you aim that gun, when you see that person, your target is the child," community activist Andrew Holmes said.

The alderman here said crime is up because police units have been depleted in the neighborhoods as many officers have been moved to special units downtown.

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"That's the only way we're gonna combat this senseless violence. We have to have those resources back as soon as possible," 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale said.

The total number of people shot in Chicago so far this year is 2,837, up 11% from 2,555 during the same period last year. The number fatally shot is up 8%, from 436 to 470.

The Riverdale community has the highest rate of juveniles shot, with 9.5 per 10,000 residents. North Lawndale is second, at 9.2 per 10,000 residents.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.