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Boy, 6, in Surgery After Being Shot in Shoulder While Sitting in Car

By  Darryl Holliday and Quinn Ford | November 6, 2013 6:27pm | Updated on November 6, 2013 8:57pm

 The incident occurred in the 5600 block of South Mozart Street, police said.
Boy Shot in Shoulder While He Sat in Car, Officials Say
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CHICAGO — A 6-year-old boy is undergoing surgery after he was shot while sitting in a car in Gage Park Wednesday, officials said.

The boy was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital after being shot in the shoulder about 5:37 p.m., said Officer Veejay Zala, a Chicago Police Department spokesman.

The 6-year-old boy was with his two brothers in a car in the 5600 block of South Mozart Street when two men walked up to the car and talked briefly with the oldest brother, who was in his 20s, police said.

After a brief conversation, the two men began throwing bottles at the car, causing the oldest brother to drive away, said Officer Amina Greer, a police spokeswoman. As the car drove away, gunshots were heard, and a short time later, the oldest brother realized the 6-year-old had been shot and called police.

The driver and the third brother, age 7, were uninjured. The wounded boy was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital where authorities initially said he was in "serious, but stable" condition. Early Thursday morning, police said the boy had undergone surgery for his wounds but did not have an update on his condition.

No suspects were in custody as of Thursday, police said.

On Wednesday night, police tape blocked off the brothers' car, which had a busted back window and at least two bullet holes in the hood.

Standing with his family outside their home next to the scene of the shooting, Armando Sanchez, 14, said: "It wasn't as bad when I was younger."

"I hear gunshots about every two months," Sanchez added.

A man who said he grew up on the block but didn't want to be identified for fear of reprisal, said he came to the scene to check on his godchildren who live nearby.

"These [shooters] are young, they're trigger happy, and they're trying to make a name for themselves," he said. "I've been out of the Marines since 2007, and I've been to about 20 funerals since then — about 80 percent were from around here — four of those I knew personally."

One of those four was 24-year-old Adrian Sianez, who was shot dead on Sept. 8 one block north of Wednesday's scene.

Sianez, a documented gang member and a construction worker, was outside drinking with friends in the 5500 block of South Mozart Street when rival gang members pulled up in an SUV and began shooting, according to relatives and police.

At least nine people were shot Wednesday, including three fatally.