Safe Passage worker shot on West Side

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A Safe Passage worker was wounded in a shooting in the South Austin neighborhood Thursday morning.

The shooting occurred in the 5600-block of West Corcoran Place at about 8:20 a.m. near the CTA Green Line Central Avenue station. Police said the victim, a man in his 20s, was shot in the back and transported to Loyola University Medical Center in serious condition.

Chicago Police Spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the man was a Safe Passage worker who was wounded in an exchange of gunfire between two other people.

Surveillance video captured one side of a shootout between two people that injured the Safe Passage worker who was an innocent bystander. In the video, a man gets out of the front passenger side of a car. Seconds later he points a gun and fires before getting back in the car and taking off.

"It was a crossfire situation where two individuals were shooting at each other and our victim was an unintended target. He was a Safe Passage worker working his Safe Passage route," said CPD Sgt. Cindy Guerra.

No one else was hit by gunfire.

A Safe Passage worker was wounded in a shooting in the South Austin neighborhood Thursday morning.

The Safe Passage program is designed to provide safe routes to and from school for Chicago students.

"It is sad that a young man watching over other people's kids while they are in the bed making sure that kids get back and forth safe to school and get caught up in the crossfire," said George Bady with Stop the Violence.

In a statement, CPS CEO Dr. Janice Jackson said: "We are devastated by this senseless act that harmed a member of our CPS family, but we are grateful that the injuries were non-life threatening. We are thankful that no students were in the area when this occurred, and we are sending a crisis team to support the school community."

"While no students were present during the incident, we will work with CPD to gather a full understanding of the incident to ensure that every possible measure is put in place to support student and staff safety," she said.

No arrested have been made and Area North Detectives are investigating.