Douglass Branch of Chicago Public Library shooting case is in progress
The investigation into the shooting of the 3 -year-old boy outside the Douglass Branch of the Chicago Public Library is ongoing.
On Dec. 12, Chicago police responded to reports of gunfire that occurred around 9:00 am outside the Douglass Branch of the Chicago Public Library located at 3353 W. 13 St. in North Lawndale.
Police say two suspects armed with handguns encountered another individual and exchanged gunfire near the library. The intended victim who was walking in the area was struck in the heel. The gunfire also struck a 3- year-old boy in the arm who was inside a nearby vehicle with his uncle.
The boy was later taken to John. H Stroger, Jr. Hospital in serious condition but was released later that day.
According to a statement given by Chicago police, no suspects are in custody and Area Central detectives are still investigating.
“Two male offenders approached a 35-year-old male victim outside at the above location. Both offenders fired shots at the victim, striking him in the heel. He was taken to Mount Sinai in good condition. A 3-year-old male was sitting in a vehicle in the area and was struck in the arm by gunfire. He was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious condition, but has been stabilized. Another adult male inside the vehicle with the child was not injured. A CPD vehicle was also struck by gunfire, but no officers were injured. No offenders are in custody. Area Central detectives are investigating.”
Rodney Brown, a member of the executive sub- committee of the NLCCC said the shooting should not discourage North Lawndale residents from using the library.
“We cannot allow these kinds of incidents to discourage you from going to the library. We still need to encourage folks to use that facility as a lot of hard work went into getting it redone,” he said.
Additionally, Brown said that anytime a child is the victim of a shooting it’s more disheartening. “No one should be the victim of something along those lines when it happens to a kid, it's even worse.
Ald. Michael Scott, Jr. (24th Ward) was contacted for comment but has yet to respond.