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Lincoln Square Facebook Stabbing 'Not Random,' But Disrupts 'Pleasantville'

By  Josh McGhee and Mauricio Peña | June 30, 2015 3:04pm 

LINCOLN SQUARE — A Lincoln Square stabbing that left a 20-year-old woman dead Monday stemmed from a comment on Facebook, Ald. Ameya Pawar (47th) said.

And while Pawar said it was "not random," residents of the typically quiet 2100 block of West Sunnyside Avenue were still shaken Tuesday — and seeking more information from police and city officials. 

"I call [Lincoln Square] Pleasantville," said Meredith Reynolds, 30, who has lived in the neighborhood for five years. "I can't believe it."

"It's scary. This is definitely not a usual thing for our neighborhood," said resident Lisa Shea outside the home she's lived in for 20 years on the tree-lined block. Her red-haired 6-year-old son pushed his little brother on the tire swing nearby.

Mauricio Pena says neighbors were rattled by the incident:

Around 3:30 p.m. Monday, a 20-year-old woman was killed and two men were hospitalized after a stabbing in the alley behind Shea's home, according to Officer Janel Sedevic, a Chicago Police spokeswoman.

The woman died on her way to Illinois Masonic Medical Center. A 21-year-old man was taken to Swedish Covenant Hospital with cuts on his face, which were not life-threatening, and a 19-year-old man was taken to St. Francis Hospital, where his condition is unknown, said Jeff Lyle, a fire department spokesman.

Shea said her neighbors children had been playing basketball in the alley at the time.

"There is no immediate danger to the community, it wasn't random, but it's still tragic, horrific and sad. That's the biggest thing, it's sad," Pawar said Tuesday.

Pawar and police could not confirm Tribune reports that the incident was gang-related, but he did say it stemmed from social media and was "domestic in nature."

"What we should take away is that we need to give young people the tools to deal with conflict," the alderman said. "Someone should not lose their life over a comment on a Facebook page."

Pawar and police had no further information on the nature of the conflict Tuesday, but police said they were questioning a person of interest.

"I think the worst part is there are all these rumors. Someone needs to tell the residents what's happening," Shea said after calling Pawar's office and getting no new information. "Most people on this block are content are staying in the city, but this makes you think."

A blood stain remained in the alley behind her house Tuesday afternoon.

A 20-year-old woman was stabbed to death in the alley behind the 2100 block of West Sunnyside Avenue Monday afternoon, police said. DNAinfo/Josh McGhee

According to the Tribune, the victim was with a group in the alley when a fight broke out. When she tried to intervene she was stabbed by a 19-year-old man.

A 19-year-old man called police from an "L" station and reported the stabbing and that he had "defended himself." He met police at the Rogers Park District station badly beaten and covered in blood. He was taken to St. Francis Hospital, according to the Tribune.

While some residents touted the incident as proof the neighborhood needs more police, Katie McCullough, who often walks her dog in the block just a few block north of her home, wasn't fearing for her safety.

"If it was random I'd be more freaked out," said McCullough corralling her dog Tuesday as children and adults alike casually biked the block. "It's just silly. If it was random, I'd be more concerned."

Three people were stabbed in the alley in the 2100 block of West Sunnyside Avenue, police said. DNAinfo/Mauricio Pena

Residents watch from their patio as police investigate the scene. DNAinfo/Mauricio Pena

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