3 killed, 5 wounded in Chicago Lawn shooting

Three people were killed and five others wounded in a shooting at a house party Monday afternoon in Chicago Lawn on the Southwest Side, according to Chicago police.

Officers responded at 2:10 p.m. to a call of people shot at a home in the 3500 block of West 59th Street, CPD Chief of Patrol Jon Hein told reporters. Eight people had been shot at a "social gathering" at the home, he said. The victims were four men and four women between the ages of 20 and 35, Hein said.

A 26-year-old man and two other men were pronounced dead, police said. Hein did not provide any information about the shooter or shooters, who remain at large, and was unable to provide a potential motive.

A 27-year-old woman was shot in the head and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, police said. A 24-year-old woman shot six times was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center in serious condition.

A 31-year-old man who was shot in the abdomen and a 21-year-old woman who was shot in the groin both took themselves to University of Illinois Hospital, police said. A 25-year-old man who was shot in the thigh was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, police said. All three were in good condition.

Hein didn't answer a question about whether any of the victims were recently arrived migrants in response to rumors. He said police had been called to the home before but did not elaborate.

"At this time, we have eight victims," Hein said. "We're going to solve this crime and find the individuals that are responsible for this heinous, terrible incident."

Police blocked traffic from entering the 3500 block of West St. Louis Avenue as detectives were seen entering and leaving the home Monday afternoon. Children going home from a nearby school observed the police tape and stopped to watch the scene.

A resident who lives on the block said he heard at least 10 gunshots followed by people running from the home, screaming. The man, El Towers, told reporters that parties are often hosted at the home.

One woman who declined to give her name said she had walked on the block half an hour before the shooting. Several children were playing outside the home at the time, she said.

“I’ve been here since 1977. This is not normal,” she said.