5 injured in violent West Town home invasion

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Five people were injured early Wednesday morning in a violent home invasion in Chicago's West Town neighborhood. The suspects are still on the run.

People who know the victims told ABC7 Eyewitness News they believe the family of seven was targeted.

Three men armed with baseball bats and a gun entered a home in the 1800-block of West Chicago Avenue around 1:05 a.m. and started beating people inside, police said.

They allegedly stole cell phones from a 40-year-old woman, a 13-year-old girl and a 61-year-old woman. They also took $180 in cash from the oldest woman.

Two men, ages 61 and 41, were struck in the head and were taken to Stroger Hospital. The older man is in serious condition. The younger man's condition stabilized at the hospital.

A 61-year-old woman was struck in the shoulder. She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where her condition stabilized.

An 11-year-old boy was knocked over during the attack. He was taken to Northwestern to get checked out.

Angela Hernandez, who used to live next door to the family, said news of the home invasion is concerning, but not surprising:

"They left the door open. I used to live here and called the landlord. Why do they leave the door open? They don't listen. People can easily go inside the apartment," Hernandez said.

Hernandez said this is far from the first time she's seen police show up at the home and the family is known to call 911 on a weekly basis for various problems.

"Apparently this is not people from the street. I think this is people they know," Hernandez said.

Others who know the family are praying for their full recovery. Terdarius Rucker, who cuts the 11-year-old boy's hair at the barbershop below the residence, called the home invasion a "messed up situation."

"It's sad, just knowing some like that and all the bad things going on in the community. It's just messed up," Rucker said. "I'm just hoping everyone is OK in the family and this don't happen to anyone else."

Police said the victims knew two of the three attackers. Police described the suspect unknown to the family as an African American male in his late 20s. He was wearing dark clothing during the attack.

No one is in custody. Area Central detectives are investigating.