Lawndale man charged in liquor store shooting

A Lawndale man faces aggravated battery and weapons charges for his involvement in a shooting Wednesday at a neighborhood liquor store.

Larenz Simmons, 32, was arrested Wednesday night at Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was being treated for a gunshot wound to the body, Chicago police announced Friday.

Simmons was allegedly one of three men who opened fire on a group outside a liquor store Wednesday, police said.

About 4:30 p.m. the men pulled up in a silver vehicle outside Brother 5 Food & Liquor store, 3009 W. Roosevelt Rd., and began firing shots, Chicago Police Deputy Chief Ernest Cato said.

The gunmen then continued firing inside the liquor store before fleeing the scene, according to Cato.

A 29-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the body and a 22-year-old man was struck in the back and neck, police said. Both were in critical condition.

Simmons was accidentally shot by one of the other offenders during the attack and brought to Mount Sinai Hospital for treatment where he was later placed into custody, police said.

He faces one count of aggravated battery and discharge of a weapon and another count of aggravated discharge silencer building.