Community shares safety concerns after 2 teens shot near park on Southwest Side: 'Very traumatic'

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A shooting near a Chicago park sent people scrambling for safety earlier this week.

The shooting happened Wednesday night near Kelly Park on the city's Southwest Side, Chicago police said. At least two people were shot.

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A 19-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were walking outside in the 4200-block of South Fairfield Avenue in the city's Brighton Park neighborhood just before 8:45 p.m., when they heard a noise and felt pain, police said.

Both were shot and went to Mt. Sinai Hospital, police said. They are in fair condition. CPD said the teens did not provide any more details about the shooting.

This shooting took place about a block away from Kelly park. With a soccer league operating there seven days a week during the summer months, it was close enough to really scare people there.

The local alderwoman and Chicago Park District said Friday they want to make sure families continue to feel safe, and additional patrols are being provided to make sure that happens.

Cellphone video showed children and parents hitting the ground and ducking for cover as a soccer game was interrupted by gunfire that erupted a short distance away.

"I was talking to one of the referees and we heard the shots so everybody kind of ducked and got on the floor," said Javier Puma with Chicago Best Soccer League.

According to police, the shooting took place outside of the park where dozens had gathered for the nightly soccer league. Organizers sent people home as soon as everyone was accounted for.

"We had three games going," Puma said. "We were wrapping up the last game on the field. We had only a game left for the night. Which we ended up cancelling for safety purposes."

On Friday, nearly 48 hours on from Wednesday's shooting, Kelly Park was alive with activity once again. A back-to-school health fair brought together families for a morning of fun, with kids trying their luck with a mechanical bull while also getting free vaccinations and book bags.

Alderwoman Julia Ramirez of the 12th Ward said claiming space as a neighborhood is imperative in order to move forward.

"It is very traumatic, and I think a lot of families question whether they should continue or not participating, and we encourage yes," Ald. Ramirez said. "We want me make sure families feel encouraged to come out."

The organizers of Friday's health fair told ABC7 they know the teenagers who were shot. They are both part of a summer workforce program in the neighborhood.

"You feel it because it's part of our community," said Jazmin Cerda with the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council. "We work really hard day and night to create violence prevention programs to create events like this that are family oriented."

Hoping to reassure those who come to the nightly games, CPD's 9th District will be holding an afternoon roll call in Kelly Park next Friday at 6 p.m.

No one is in custody in Wednesday's shooting, and Area One detectives are investigating.

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