2 mothers, 1 child killed in Chicago shooting; 2 more children critical: ‘A massacre of everything’
CHICAGO (WGN-TV) — Two mothers and three of their children were shot Thursday morning on Chicago’s South Side.
Police said officers responded to a home on South Woodlawn Avenue around 6:15 a.m. for reports of multiple people shot.
Upon arrival, officers found five gun shot victims and began administering first aid.
Police said a 42-year-old woman was pronounced dead at the scene. A 24-year-old woman was taken to the hospital were she was pronounced dead.
Family members have identified the women as Capri Edwards and her aunt Nakeeshia Strong. Family members said Edwards died while shielding her 1-year-old from the shooting.
Police said three children – ages 5, 7 and 8 – were also shot and are in critical condition at the hospital. The 8-year-old boy later died from his injuries at the hospital, according to Chicago police.
Family members told Nexstar’s WGN two of the children belong to Edwards. The 8-year-old is the child of Strong.
Police said two vehicles drove up to the home and multiple people got out of the vehicles and fired at the home. A neighbor who heard the gunshots reported seeing several men in ski masks approach the home that was targeted.
“I saw two people jumping off the porch after looking out the window,” the neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, said. “I thought it was fireworks.”
Strong’s son, Frank Mixon was startled awake by the sound of gunfire. Outside his bedroom, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing: five family members shot, his mother among them.
“I just woke up and saw a massacre of everything,” Mixon said. “Very vivid to see everything.”
Multiple bullet holes were visible in the home’s front window. Police said casings from a rifle and a handgun were found outside. They believe the melee began with a “personal dispute.”
“We know it’s personal,” said Deputy Chief Don Jerome. “We don’t know what it’s about. We don’t know if it happened today or if it’s ongoing.”
As of Thursday afternoon, no one was in custody.