Pedestrian shot in apparent road rage incident downtown Chicago, police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A shooting downtown Chicago during the Thursday morning rush was caused by apparent road rage toward a pedestrian, police said.

The shooting happened at about 8:30 a.m. on Canal Street near Van Buren Street, close to Union Station, police said.

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Anya Garrido was among the crowds of commuters.

"I heard a bang, a pop, just one pop, and a man that had literally passed by me two minutes prior fell down on the street and started crying and yelling," Garrido said. "I saw a man running away from him with a gun waving through the air, and he took off on Van Buren."

CPD said a 42-year-old man got into an argument with an unknown person.

The suspect then shot the 42-year-old in the leg, got into a black car that was parked on Canal, south of Van Buren, and drove away, police said.

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Passersby used a shirt to apply pressure on the victim's wound.

He was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, and is expected to be OK.

"Nobody knew what was going on. There was a sheriff on the scene immediately and then a large police presence immediately after," Patrick Opalcz said.

While investigators describe the incident as a case of alleged road rage, it's not exactly clear what triggered it.

Police said the suspect vehicle appeared to be a rental and was last seen heading west on Interstate 290.

Nobody is in custody, but police said they know who they're looking for.

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