Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said a mass shooting at a South Side park shows why assault weapons should be banned, saying it was a "miracle" no one was killed when someone opened fire with a high-powered rifle at a pick-up basketball game.
"A military-grade weapon on the streets of Chicago is simply unacceptable," McCarthy told a news conference this morning, 12 hours after a 3-year-old boy and 12 other people were shot during at Cornell Square Park. All are expected to survive.
"It's a miracle there has been no fatality," he said. "Illegal guns, illegal guns, illegal guns drive violence."
At least one gunman, maybe as many as three, walked up to the park's basketball court in the 1800 block of West 51st Street around 10:15 p.m. Thursday and opened fire, police said. Thirteen people who were on the court or were watching the game were hit, many of them in the arms or legs.
The 3-year-old, Deonta Howard, was standing on the court and was shot near the ear, the bullet exiting through his cheek, according to police and relatives. His family said the boy is expected to recover but will need plastic surgery.
"They need to stop, they need to stop," said the boy's grandmother, Semehca Nunn said, the last word coming out as almost a shriek as she closed her eyes and collapsed crying outside the hospital.
Three of those wounded, including Deonta, were in serious to critical condition this morning. The others ranged from fair to good condition, including a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...0,352520.story
"A military-grade weapon on the streets of Chicago is simply unacceptable," McCarthy told a news conference this morning, 12 hours after a 3-year-old boy and 12 other people were shot during at Cornell Square Park. All are expected to survive.
"It's a miracle there has been no fatality," he said. "Illegal guns, illegal guns, illegal guns drive violence."
At least one gunman, maybe as many as three, walked up to the park's basketball court in the 1800 block of West 51st Street around 10:15 p.m. Thursday and opened fire, police said. Thirteen people who were on the court or were watching the game were hit, many of them in the arms or legs.
The 3-year-old, Deonta Howard, was standing on the court and was shot near the ear, the bullet exiting through his cheek, according to police and relatives. His family said the boy is expected to recover but will need plastic surgery.
"They need to stop, they need to stop," said the boy's grandmother, Semehca Nunn said, the last word coming out as almost a shriek as she closed her eyes and collapsed crying outside the hospital.
Three of those wounded, including Deonta, were in serious to critical condition this morning. The others ranged from fair to good condition, including a 15-year-old boy and a 17-year-old girl.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...0,352520.story

Leave a comment: