Senn High School students shot for the 2nd time this year: 'Police cannot solve this all by themselves'

A day after two more Senn High School students were shot near the school in Edgewater, one parent said “it doesn’t seem like anybody has a good answer” on how to keep students safe.

The victims, both boys — one 16, the other 18 — were walking on the sidewalk in the 1100 block of West Catalpa Avenue about 3:30 p.m. Thursday when a dark-colored car pulled up and someone inside opened fire, police said. Both boys were hit in their arms and legs and were taken in good condition to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, police said.

The shooter fled. There have been no arrests in connection with the shooting.

It was the second time this year Senn students have been shot.

“I don’t want [my kid] thinking of school as this volatile, potentially violent environment [because] it weighs on my mind heavily,” one Senn parent told the Chicago Sun-Times. “In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have to worry about this.”

The parent did not want their name used, fearing for their child’s safety.

The shooting occurred about a mile south of Senn High School, near where one student was fatally shot and two others injured Jan. 31 around the time school was being dismissed for the day. It took place less than a week after two students were killed outside Innovations High School in the Loop.

Senn High School Principal Holly Dacres sent a letter to parents after the attack.

“I know this news is incredibly concerning and difficult, especially because our community is still processing the shooting that impacted us earlier this year,” Dacres wrote, announcing the CPS Crisis Management Unit would be at the school to provide counseling for students. “We are here for you and your family.”

The Senn parent, who lived in Andersonville before recently moving to Rogers Park, said his child has “compartmentalized” the January shooting but remains fearful.

“To some extent you accept the reality that there’s violence out there in the world. But to have multiple shootings and the school year isn’t over,” the parent said. “It’s just really hard to get your head around.”

At local safety meetings, the parent said, residents and parents have become frustrated with “empty platitudes” from elected officials who, he said, have been walking on eggshells not to get painted as having certain beliefs on police or social services.

In the wake of January’s shooting, he said, some parents started volunteering to walk students home from school and police had thanked the community for their cooperation in the investigation.

“Police and elected officials said they need the community’s support as much as we need theirs, and I think that’s a fair assessment of what we’re facing,” the parent said. “It takes a village to bring these kids up and make sure these things don’t happen.”

Angel Rubi Navarijo, director of public safety and neighborhood services for Ald. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth (48th), agreed.

Manaa-Hoppenworth’s office announced a Chicago Police Department squad car would be stationed outside the Thorndale station of the CTA’s Red Line. Patrols also will be increased in “high crime” areas, though Rubi Navarijo said more action was forthcoming.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

He said the ward office was putting together more jobs fairs and mentorship programs to help keep kids busy.

“We don’t want to step on anyone’s toes in terms of public safety,” Rubi Navarijo said. In the short term, “we’re working with violence interrupters and we would love to see more support for youth. … The police cannot solve this all by themselves.”

Rubi Navarijo said the ward office was waiting to schedule a community meeting until they hear what the community wants to do. He encouraged people to go to the office’s bi-weekly ward nights and to show up at police district council meetings to ensure their voices are heard.

“We’re frustrated, too,” Rubi Navarijo said. “We’re all gonna get through this together. We may have different approaches, but we all want safe neighborhoods.”