Two women and an 8-year-old boy were killed and two young boys were left in critical condition Thursday after multiple shooters opened fire into a Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood home on the South Side, according to Chicago police.
About 6:15 a.m., officers responding to a ShotSpotter gunshot detection alert as well as 911 calls found the women, ages 42 and 24, along with the children — ranging in age from 5 to 8 — all wounded inside the home in the 7100 block of South Woodlawn, according to CPD Deputy Chief Don Jerome.
The officers provided first aid, but Nakeeshia Strong, 42, died at the scene, Jerome said during a press conference near the scene.
Capri Edwards, 24, died at the University of Chicago Medical Center, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
The boys were taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition. Police said they were 5, 7 and 8, but a relative said one of the boys is 6.
The 8-year-old boy was pronounced dead Thursday evening, police said. He was identified as Bryson Orr by the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
The family member told the Sun-Times he was inside the home at the time of the shooting, identifying his mother, brother and cousins among the victims.
“I heard popping noises and came out my room and saw my 6-year-old brother with gunshot wounds to his body,” said the relative, who declined to share his name.
“I come out to the front room and [my cousin is] laying down and not even responding,” he said. “My mom was face down, and my little brother was in my momma’s room fighting for his life.”
A preliminary investigation suggested two vehicles pulled up to the home, multiple shooters got out and they fired shots at the home, Jerome said, adding it might have stemmed from a personal dispute.
Shell casings from a rifle and handgun were recovered at the scene, Jerome said. Investigators were reviewing video surveillance video and running possible license plate numbers of vehicles seen speeding from the scene.
No one was in custody.
Hours after the mass shooting, officers investigated as family members, violence prevention workers and neighbors gathered on the block.
Strong’s 19-year-old son, Frank Mixon, said he was “lost in emotions,” calling her “the love of my life for sure.”
“She was such an amazing woman. No one showed me how to go get it and work hard like her,” Mixon said across the street from where the shooting occurred.
Mixon said he and his mother had spent time a few days earlier talking about his collegiate basketball career.
“This is just a setback, a major setback for me, but if my mom was here, she’s just gonna tell me the same thing: ‘Take it on the chin and keep going.’”
Police said it wasn’t clear who was targeted in the attack.
Ald. Desmon Yancy (5th) said the area around the block is “a relatively quiet community and isn’t really used to this sort of violence.”
“Personal conflict and guns make a bad combination,” Yancy said. “My heart bleeds for this community.”
Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office will be coordinating with police and Yancy to officer resources to family and friends of the victims.
“On behalf of the City of Chicago, we express our deepest condolences to the families and the Grand Crossing community mourning the lives lost in the shooting that took place this morning,” Johnson said in a statement. “We will continue coordinating with our partners at the Chicago Police Department, 5th Ward Alderman Desmon Yancy, and victim services partners to support this community on a path of healing from this tragic incident.”
Police asked anyone with information to submit tips anonymously at CPDtip.com.
The shooting capped a brutal start to the July Fourth holiday weekend that saw at least five other people wounded in separate attacks across the city.
Contributing: Cindy Hernandez
