Shooting that killed 2, wounded 7 in Washington Park likely caused by ‘personal conflict with gang affiliations,’ top cop says

A mass shooting in Washington Park that killed two people and wounded seven was likely caused by “a personal conflict with gang affiliations,” Chicago’s top cop said Wednesday as investigators continued to piece together what happened.

An argument between two groups escalated into an exchange of gunfire around 7:45 p.m. Tuesday at 5531 S. King Drive, police said. At least 43 shell casings were recovered, and Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said an automatic weapon was likely used in the attack.

“That’s a good assumption,” he told reporters at police headquarters Wednesday morning.

He and other police leaders had few details about the gunfight and continued asking for the public’s help identifying the shooters.

“With the two groups, we don’t even have it fleshed out yet with the nine victims on who was on which side of which group and who may have been firing,” Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan told reporters.

No one was in custody, and some of the victims weren’t cooperating with detectives, officials said. No weapons were found at the scene, Deenihan said.

Brown said the shooting wasn’t connected to the UniverSoul Circus or a pickup ballgame that was happening nearby. At the scene, caution tape cordoned off the stands of a baseball diamond, and lawn chairs were left behind as police combed through the park.

“This was just a group in a separate part of the park that got into a personal conflict with gang affiliations that we believe — from the information we have now — were shooting at each other,” Brown said.

Lionel Coward, 43, suffered a gunshot wound in the back of his head, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was found in critical condition by emergency responders and later died.

Khalil Denny, 19, was shot multiple times and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died, police and the medical examiner’s office said.

A man, 30, was shot in his left shin and was listed in good condition; a man, 39, was struck in his right ankle and was listed in good condition; a woman, 47, was struck in her upper left thigh and was listed in good condition; a 22-year-old man was struck in his left elbow and was listed in good condition. They were all taken by ambulance to the University of Chicago Medical Center.

Two other victims sought hospital treatment later. A woman, 33, suffered a graze wound to her upper right arm, and a 46-year-old man had a graze wound on his right calf. A 19-year-old man went to Insight Hospital with a wound to his right shoulder. He was listed in good condition.

A $15,000 reward is being offered for information about the shooting. Anonymous tipsters can call (833) 408-0069.