WOODLAWN — A man was shot dead Monday morning on what residents considered a safe zone surrounded by dangerous territory.
A 27-year-old man was standing on a corner in the 600 block of East 62nd Street about 10 a.m. when a man approached him, pulled out a gun and shot him in his upper chest, said Officer Jose Estrada, a police spokesman.
The man, best known to residents as "Gymshoe," was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:38 a.m., according to the The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
Medical examiners identified him as Phillip Henderson, of the 6200 block of South Langley Avenue.
Residents said they heard a single shot fired before a car screeched off, before hearing three additional shots.
The victim attempted to run after the first shot but collapsed, then the shooter stood over him before firing more shots and fleeing the scene, residents said.
The victim was affiliated with a gang, but it wasn't immediately clear if the shooting was gang-related, police said.
No one was in custody for the shooting.
Residents said the area where the victim died is typically something of a safe zone. They are surrounded by more dangerous areas on each side, but shootings are infrequent on their particular block, they said.
"We're in the middle, so we're good. We're peacemakers over here, baby," one resident of the block said.
