Man hit by gunfire takes shelter in West Side grade school

A grade school in Austin on the West Side was locked down Monday morning after a man shot outside of the school took shelter inside it, according to police.

Multiple people began firing shots at the man after he crashed his vehicle into two other vehicles about about 8 a.m. in the 5600 block of West Washington Boulevard, Chicago police said.

“Offenders in both cars got out and started shooting at him,” a police spokeswoman said.

The wounded man, 37, took shelter in a school on that block, police said. Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School, at 5608 W Washington Blvd., is located in that block.

Police said the school was briefly placed on lockdown, although no one in the school was in danger.

The man was taken in good condition to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood for treatment of a gunshot wound, according to police and Chicago Fire Dept. officials.

Reached by phone, an employee of the school said all of the students were safe.

It was unclear if the crash and shooting were intentional, or the result of road rage, a police spokeswoman said. The wounded man was allegedly not cooperating with investigators.

No arrests have been made, police said.

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