CHICAGO (WBBM Newsradio) — A massive street party in South Austin may have been the backdrop for three separate shootings early Sunday that left two people dead and seven others injured, though Chicago police have not publicly confirmed the incidents are connected.
The violence began around 1:40 a.m. near Lamon and Maypole avenues, where officers found a 20-year-old woman with multiple gunshot wounds to her arms. She was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition.
Roughly an hour later, officers were called to West End and LaCrosse avenues for reports of a large crowd and multiple people shot. Social media posts identified the gathering as a "Club Jroy" event, showing a street takeover stretching for nearly 10 blocks.
28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin said the party was originally set for another location, but was moved at the last minute, creating what he called "a huge street scene" in the neighborhood.
"We had folks from as far as Hammond, Indiana, and Lansing, Illinois coming to this location," he told WBBM. "I really take issue with people that come from outside of the community to do this type of foolishness."
Gunfire at that scene killed a 22-year-old woman and wounded five others, including a 29-year-old woman, a 29-year-old man, two 18-year-old men, and a 17-year-old boy. Two of the victims were listed in critical condition.
Then, at 4:37 a.m., more shots were fired near Maypole and Lavergne avenues after an argument between two 18-year-old men and two people in a vehicle. Kaleb Williams, 18, was shot twice in the back and later died at Stroger Hospital. The second victim was shot in the arm and hospitalized in good condition.
Ervin said the secretive nature of the gathering made it difficult for police to respond quickly.
A police source told CBS News Chicago that officers at the party were so outnumbered they called in backup from districts as far as O'Hare and downtown.
The event's organizer acknowledged online that he'd heard threats before the party and considered canceling, but called the night "successful" and apologized "if anybody blames me."
Ervin said that apology "is not gonna bring that young lady back… and it's not gonna remove those gunshot wounds from those six victims."
Area Four detectives are investigating all three incidents.
