UPTOWN — After two separate, gang-related shootings Monday, Police District Cmdr. Elias Voulgaris has agreed to add more foot patrols to high-crime areas in the neighborhood.
"At my urging, Commander Vougaris has agreed to add foot patrols to our crime hot spots," Ald. James Cappleman (46th) wrote in an email to residents Tuesday afternoon.
Police News Affairs Officer Bari Lemmon said District 19 will add more cops to the beat, but would not specify how many additional officers, where they would be patrolling, or how long there would be an increased police presense in the area.
"We like to keep the bad guys guessing," Lemmon said, adding that foot patrols mean "higher visibility" in the neighborhood.
Cappleman reached out to Uptown residents Monday on Twitter after two shootings happened within hours of each other.
"More cops in the area and if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately," Cappleman tweeted.
The first shooting happened around noon Monday. A 23-year-old man was driving in the 4700 block of North Clarendon Avenue when three men approached him and opened fire, said Officer Janel Sedevic. The man crashed the car after being shot in his head. He was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center where he was listed in grave condidion, according to Sedevic.
Oduro Yeboah, of the 800 Block of West Belle Plaine Avenue, later died from his injuries. He was pronounced dead at 6:26 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
In an emailed update to residents, Cappleman said the victim was trying to help his female cousin who was having car trouble at a BP gas station on the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Marine Drive.
"She called her cousin and her boyfriend who came to her assistance," Cappleman wrote. "After they arrived, another man arrived at approximately 12:15 p.m., pulled out a gun, and shot the cousin, who as of right now, is in critical condition. The boyfriend also had a grazed wound and is fine. The police are investigating to confirm that this was a personal incident. There is very clear video footage from a number of different sources that the detectives are now reviewing."
On Tuesday, a BP employee who was working when the shooting happened, said he heard the gunshots and immediately called police. The employee said several police cars arrived within "two minutes."
"This is uncommon," said the employee, who added that he wasn't too concerned about the incident because of how heavy the police presence was following it.
Anita Coey, a 20-year veteran of the neighborhood who lives near the BP station, said she was surprised to read about the shooting in the news.
"This is such a nice, peaceful place to walk," said Coey, pointing to the corner of Lawrence Avenue and Marine Drive. "I guess you just never know. It just feels unsafe now."
The second shooting in Uptown Monday happened around 7:20 p.m. in the 100 block of West WIlson Avenue when police say an 18-year-old man was shot in the buttocks. Police say the man was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center in good condition.
Around 8:00 p.m., Cappleman tweeted that he was on the scene at Broadway and Wilson speaking with the Cmdr. Elias Voulgaris. The alderman reminded residents to call 911 and tweet at him directly with any suspicious activity.
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