Multiple critically wounded in South Deering shooting after verbal altercation, Chicago police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- At least three people were shot during a verbal altercation in South Deering Sunday, according to police.

The victims got into a verbal altercation with another group of individuals in the 2900-block of East 97th Street just before 4:30 p.m. when someone pulled out a gun and fired shots in the direction of the victims, striking them, police said.

A 32-year-old man was shot in the stomach, ankle and thigh. He was transported to Christ Hospital in critical condition. A 22-year-old man was shot in the back. He was also transported to Christ Hospital in critical condition. A 35-year-old man was shot in the leg and transported to the University of Chicago Hospital, also in critical condition.

Just five minutes later in West Woodlawn, four men were shot, killing two of them, as they sat on a porch in the 6100-block of South Evans Avenue, police say. Detectives said someone in a dark blue Chevy Impala got out of the car and fired shots, striking the three men multiple times.

"Toughest part about this, which they don't understand, is when that casket closes! When you're at the funeral and that casket closes, and it never opens again," said community activist Andrew Holmes.

In both cases, no one is in custody.

So far this weekend, 55 people have been shot, eight fatally, in Chicago gun violence.