Man Injured in West Town After Altercation Leads to Shooting
CHICAGO — In the early hours of the morning, a disturbing incident unfolded in West Town as a man was injured during an altercation that escalated into a shooting, according to police reports.
Law enforcement officials were alerted to the situation in the 1600 block of West Division at approximately 1:42 a.m. Upon arrival, they discovered a 34-year-old man with gunshot wounds to his abdomen and back, as detailed in a media statement from the Chicago Police Department.
The victim’s own firearm fell to the ground when he stumbled during the altercation with at least one other individual. Seizing the opportunity, the assailant picked up the weapon, shot the victim, and quickly fled the scene in a gray SUV. Authorities recovered three shell casings at the location, indicating the severity of the incident.
The suspect’s getaway vehicle was last seen heading south in an adjacent alley, leaving behind a trail of uncertainty and fear in the neighborhood.
This unfortunate event marks the 30th shooting victim in the West Town community area this year, a stark increase from the previous year’s statistics. Here is a breakdown of recent shooting victim totals in West Town:
2024: 30
2023: 17
2022: 32
2021: 43
2020: 46
2019: 28
2018: 37