Boy, 14, critically injured in North Lawndale shooting

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 14-year-old boy was critically injured in a shooting on the West Side in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood.

According to police, the teen was standing on the sidewalk in the 1400-block of South Drake Avenue around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday when a man with a gun approached him and asked about his gang affiliation. Police said the boy has no documented gang ties, but does have record of petty crime.

When the 14-year-old said he wasn't in a gang, police said he turned to run away and was shot in the back. The boy was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was last listed in critical condition.

"I just heard the baby out here screaming on the ground like 'help me, help me.' I looked out the window, my cousin was balled up in her car because she didn't want to get shot. I told her to drag him in the hallway, so she dragged him in the hallways. I called the ambulance and he said to pressure on the gunshot, so I came downstairs with a towel and put pressure on it and calmed him down," said Martavia Lambert.

Lambert called 911 and came to help the teen. She said she was visiting relatives and her cousin had to duck in her car when the shots were fired. Lambert says she is frustrated to see young people are often the victims and perpetrators of violence in the neighborhood.

"You should be thinking about high school or something, you shouldn't be around here doing this stuff. This stuff is crazy," said Lambert.

On Wednesday, some Lawndale neighbors said they are deeply troubled by the recent violence.

"It's sad because I got kids that's older now, but I got grandkids that's coming up," said Michael Tally, resident. "It's always, it's a funeral every other week."

Tally grew up in Lawndale and now won't let his grandkids out by themselves. He says someone was hiding in the tall weeds that neighbors had been complaining about for weeks, and that someone fired at a young man walking down Drake.

"I actually heard like three shots. Like I said, I wasn't sure if it was fireworks or it was actually a shooting, so I ducked and ran in the house," said Tally.

"The last two weeks I have actually been parked between the 1400- and 1500-block of South Drake because we know this is an area where some of the young people come through," community activist Rev. Robin Hood said.

Hood said young people are getting into trouble because there are virtually no community resources for them. Hood explained that there are resources in neighboring communities, but the children run the risk of being shot for crossing into someone else's turf.

Police are investigating the shooting and do not have a suspect in custody.