2 persons of interest in custody for shooting that hurt 4-year-old in McKinley Park, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two people are in custody in the shooting that hurt a young child on the city's Southwest Side, according to Chicago police.

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The shooting happened on Wednesday around 7:10 p.m. in the 3100-block of South Ashland Avenue, police said.

A 4-year-old boy was a passenger in a minivan driven by a 23-year-old man, police said. An armed offender in a vehicle driving behind the victims' vehicle fired shots.

The boy was shot in the back and was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

On Thursday, Chicago police confirmed two persons of interest are in custody. No other details regarding the people in custody were released.

Alderwoman Julia Ramirez of the 12th Ward is hoping to help the boy and his family.

"We are reaching out to the various organizations that do follow up with victims of gun violence still waiting to hear further information about how to best support that family and that child," Ramirez said.

Investigators said at the time of the shooting, three other kids were in the van along with two adults.

"The car did have the 4-year-old in the back," Ramirez said.

Ald. Ramirez knows too well the lasting impact of trauma. He younger brother Nicholas was killed, an innocent victim of gun violence and mistaken identity. He died 10 years ago.

"It's hard to sleep on days like this I think about my own mother," Ramirez said. "I think about everybody who is triggered, not just myself, but anybody who hears that kind of news."

A family member told ABC7 at the hospital that the boy was shot multiple times and was going into surgery Wednesday night.

No other passengers in the victims' vehicle were injured, police said.

Ald. Ramirez told ABC7 the boy shot is stable as police continue to investigate.

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