68-year-old man seriously injured in Wicker Park shooting: Chicago police

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 68-year-old man was shot and seriously injured in Wicker Park Thursday evening, the Chicago police said.

The man was near an alley in the 1400-block of North Elk Grove Avenue about 4:45 p.m. when a suspect approached him with a gun, police said.

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Neighbors said the shooting happened in the back of the victim's home in an alley just as the 68-year-old man was leaving his apartment. Those neighbors are now shaken with fear in their own homes.

Crime scene tape crisscrossed through the Wicker Park alley after someone approached a 68-year-old man and shot him in his chest, police said.

"I come through the alley all the time," resident Shane Gardner said. "I walk through there with my dogs, and for it to happen in the middle of broad daylight is concerning."

Investigators said it happened around 4:45 Thursday afternoon in the alley between Elk Grove Avenue and Wood Street.

Neighbors said the suspect was apparently trying to steal the victim's car.

"It happened while the neighbor was pulling out of his garage." said another resident, Sam W.

The man who was shot was taken to Stroger Hospital initially listed in serious condition.

The fear some of these neighbors have will possibly turn into action one day, with ideas to hire private security for the neighborhood to keep them safe when Chicago police aren't around.

"For the last couple years we've been seeing an uptick in crime in the neighborhood, and that would be helpful," Sam said.

Investigators spent hours Friday tonight scouring for home security video from cameras positioned in this alley. No one is currently in custody, police said.

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