A standby witness to a shooting in the Southwest side of the city, mistook Chicago Pilsen police for gang members.
Officers wounded two people during a shootout Friday morning in the Pilsen neighborhood on the city’s Southwest Side.
Police officers were conducting an “investigatory stop” on several people around 7 a.m. in the 1000 block of West 18th Street. But the stopped derailed into an exchange of gunfire, according to police.
Two people were struck in the shooting, police said. Their ages and conditions were unkown when the news broke out.
No police officers were injured in the shooting, according to CPD spokesman Tom Ahern. However, two officers self-transported to local hospitals for evaluation. The officers drove to Christ Hospital.
Neighbors said they heard about 10 shots fired.
A woman, who did not want to be identified told Fox, was walking to work heard the shots and saw a man lying on the sidewalk. But ABC reported, she also said she didn’t see any of the suspects in the area.
“I’m telling you I thought it sounded like the Fourth of July. I thought it was gang-related for the amount of shots that were fired because it was just so many. I’m like wow, they want this man dead,” she said.
She dropped to the ground and started to dial 911 on her phone but then saw police officers at the scene.
At least a dozen evidence markers scattered the scene as 18th Street was closed between Carpenter and Morgan streets for the investigation.
ABC reported that, one person is still at large, a 17- to 22-year-old male suspect wearing an orange polo, police said.
But Fox updated saying, area Three detectives are interviewing two persons of interest.
CPD is expected to give an update at 1:30 p.m.
Chicago Pilsen police asked residents to avoid the area.
