CHICAGO — A Safe Passage worker was shot at from a car on her route Tuesday morning in Grand Boulevard, but she escaped harm and has been removed from that route, according to police and Chicago Public Schools officials.
The 36-year-old woman was working near 47th Street and Wabash Avenue along the route for Mollison Elementary School about 9 a.m. when a black Audi pulled up and stopped, police said. The woman ran west toward her car, heard four to five shots and dove to the ground, avoiding injury, according to police.
The car then took off, police said. No one was hurt.
"This is very likely a domestic incident," Chicago Police spokesman Adam Collins said.
The Tribune reported that the worker was involved in an ongoing dispute with her estranged husband, a gang member, and she had at some point moved from another Safe Passage route to the Mollison one because of the conflict.
“No children or other community members were present during the time of the alleged incident, and no other incidents of children getting hurt have been reported along this route or any route in the city," CPS said.
"As a protective measure, the safe passage vendor has removed this safe passage worker from her post until further notice," the statement said. "CPS will continue to work with CPD and the community to carefully monitor the situation and protect children on their way to school and home.”
CPS bolstered the Safe Passage program with more workers and additional routes after the School Board in May ordered 50 schools to be closed. The routes are meant to guide children safely to school, especially in areas where parents feared kids would have to walk through rival gang territory.
