CHICAGO (WLS) — Authorities are currently engaging with a person of interest linked to a shooting on Chicago’s South Side, where a 15-year-old boy lost his life and another child was hurt on Thursday afternoon, according to the city’s police department.
Two boys, aged 12 and 15, found themselves in a confrontation with several unidentified individuals around 3:45 p.m. in a vacant field located in the 600 block of West 47th Street within the Canaryville area, as reported by the police. The incident happened not far from Tilden High School, and Chopper 7 provided aerial footage of the location.
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At least one suspect pulled out a gun, and shot the boys, police said.
The 12-year-old was shot in the chest, and the 15-year-old was shot in the hip area, CPD said.
One of the boys was able to run away to the back of a nearby barbershop before collapsing on the ground.
The garments belonging to one of the young victims were left on the ground behind Style Headquarters barbershop. The shop’s owner discovered the boy, who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, in the area.
That owner asked not to be identified.
“I went to take my break at the back, and saw him lying on the gate. At first, I thought he might have fallen from the roof due to ongoing renovations, but turns out he was shot elsewhere and ended up running down here,” the owner recounted. “They pursued him till he was at the back of the house just over there. Although he sustained injuries, he continued moving, probably due to the bullet wounds being fresh. Emergency services soon arrived and transported him to the hospital.”
The boys were taken to University of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition, police said.
Friday morning, police said the 15-year-old died. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified him as Alex Durante.
“I’ve been running this shop for the past five years, and with our anniversary approaching, such an incident is unprecedented in this locality,” the barbershop owner mentioned.
Police confirmed later Friday that detectives are speaking with a person of interest.
Area detectives are investigating. Police did not immediately provide any additional information about the suspects.
Alderman Raymond Lopez took to X to share his thoughts: “This afternoon, the 15th Ward witnessed a shooting close to Tilden High School. If deploying national guardsmen to boost visibility prevents such incidents among our youth, why isn’t it being considered? Our state and city leaders, Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson, seem to be falling short on delivering actual solutions for my community.”
There’s no word on whether anyone involved is a student at Tilden High School.
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