A total of nine teenagers were shot in a pair of shootings less than an hour apart in Chicago's Loop late Friday night, and one was killed, according to Chicago police.
Police said officers from the city's Central (1st) district were on patrol were around 9:50 p.m. at 164 N. State Street, just outside the Chicago Theatre, when they heard gunshots and saw a large group running away.
Saturday morning, police reported that seven teenagers were wounded in the shooting; a 14-year-old boy suffered a wound to the stomach, and was in good condition at Lurie Children's Hospital. A 15-year-old who suffered a graze wound to the left thigh was in good condition at Stroger Hospital. A 17-year-old boy who suffered a graze wound to the left thigh also was in good condition at Stroger Hospital. Another 14-year-old boy, shot to the right hip, was in good condition at Lurie Children's Hospital. A fifth victim, a 16-year-old boy, was shot to the leg and was in good condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Two more boys, 14 and 13, were also taken to Lurie Children's Hospital where they were listed in good and fair condition with wounds to the legs, police said.
At least 6 evidence markers were sitting on State Street by the theater's marquee around 11:40 p.m. as Central (1st) District police kept the area blocked off.
A few blocks south, a second shooting at 140 S. Dearborn St. around 10:40 p.m. left a 17-year-old boy dead and an 18-year-old man in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the leg. The dead teen's identity wasn't yet public Saturday morning.
Police sources said both shootings were connected to a "teen takeover" that had made the rounds on social media over a few days. Crowds had been in the downtown area earlier Friday evening for the annual tree lighting ceremony, and some of the social media videos advised people to avoid the Loop because of a possible takeover.
Ald. Brian Hopkins, 2nd, posted to social media around 10:50 p.m. that 300 youths were "rioting" downtown, but didn't give a specific location. Hopkins also said that at least one police officer had been hospitalized and others had been injured while responding to the scene.
It was the first shooting with that number of victims in the center of the city in a number of months.
Earlier this year,14 people were wounded and 4 were killedin a drive-by rifle shooting that the drill rapper Mello Buckzz's album release party in the River North neighborhood. Authorities are still investigating that shooting, which was among the city's worst in recent years even as violent crimes have dropped sharply.
No one is in custody for either shooting, police said, and Belmont Area detectives were investigating.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
