FULLER PARK — Charles Short had dinner cooking in the oven when he stepped outside his Fuller Park home Friday evening. Family members said the 51-year-old was probably making a quick run to the store.
But as Short crossed the street in the 4200 block of South Princeton Avenue, shots rang out.
In a nearby alleyway, a gunman got out of his car and opened fire in the 51-year-old's direction, police said.
Short was shot in his head and chest. He was pronounced dead on the scene at 6:35 p.m.
A 32-year-old man, who was also standing in the street, was hit twice in his chest. He was taken to John. H. Stroger Hospital where his condition stabilized.
Police said the 32-year-old man is a documented gang member, but they had no records of Short having gang affiliations.
Saturday afternoon, Short's family members called on local and state leaders to do more about preventing violence in Chicago.
"I can't bring my brother back, but I don't want anyone else to have to go through this," said Norine Taylor, Short's sister. "Everyday people are getting shot. Innocent bystanders, kids, adults, you can't even come out during the day without worrying, 'Am I next?'"
Taylor said her brother is now another victim who was caught in crossfire, like 58-year-old Betty Howard, who was killed Thursday afternoon by a stray bullet while she was inside her South Side office.
"I was talking about that at work and not knowing that I'm going to be in the same situation," Taylor said. "Their pain, now it's inflicted on us."
Short was the oldest of five children, born and raised in Chicago, family said. He worked as a security guard and was active in his church. He was also a father of three, said his daughter, Lakesha Short.
"My daddy, he was a family man," she said. "He didn't hurt anybody, and he didn't deserve that."
Lakesha Short said she wants someone to send the message to "these young boys to put these guns down."
"You're not shooting your intended target," she said. "You're hurting others that have nothing to do with what's going on."
Short and Taylor said they want Mayor Rahm Emanuel to do more to stop street violence. Taylor said Emanuel should hire more police officers, and if that is not an option, ask Gov. Pat Quinn to call in the National Guard.
"He can't do it all," Taylor said of Emanuel. "Don't be ashamed to admit you can't do it."
Lakesha Short agreed.
"I think they need to bring in the National Guard, the Feds, the Army, whoever," she said. "They need to because the violence is not going to stop."
