CHICAGO — A candidate who is one of four people vying for Ald. Willie Cochran's 20th Ward seat found himself face-to-face with the violence plaguing the South Side while campaigning for votes Saturday in Woodlawn.
Kevin Bailey was approaching a group of young voters outside of Bessie Coleman Library, at 731 East 63rd St., when a man began shooting in his direction from across the street, he said.
"It's extremely disappointing and it's saddening but it's an example of how we failed [the shooter]. I'm upset but not at [the shooter]," said Bailey, who said the shooter was likely a victim of "closed schools, broken homes."
Around 4:30 p.m., Bailey, a University of Illinois graduate who works as a civil engineer, said he was walking towards a group of young men near the intersection of 63rd Street and Evans Avenue. As Bailey tried to get the attention of the men, who were about 60 feet away, he heard about three gun shots, he said.
"I was a ways away so I was yelling 'Guys, have you voted? Get out — ' and everyone starts ducking. When I turned around he was still shooting," Bailey said. "I was just campaigning as usual, nothing out of the ordinary."
Bailey could not say if he was the intended target, but noted "the way he was aiming there was no one else in my vicinity."
Police arrived at the scene within a couple of minutes, and Bailey said he pointed out the shooter as he fled the scene, Bailey said.
Police confirmed they had taken a report on the shooting around 4:40 p.m. in the 6300 block of South Evans Avenue, but said Monday they had no information on any arrests being made.
Bailey said the shooter was holding a black gun. He had a dark complexion and looked to be between 15-20 years old. He was wearing a blue hoodie along with a grey and black White Sox jacket, he said.
After the shooting, Bailey was approached by Ernest Radcliffe, another candidate for the 20th Ward seat who was also campaigning on the street, Bailey said. He asked if everyone was OK and if anyone was hit, Bailey said.
Radcliffe was returning to the site after grabbing lunch when the shooting broke out, he said Monday.
"As I was getting out of the car two guys ran across and started shooting," said Radcliffe, adding he was close enough to see the dreadlocks on one of the shooters.
Radcliffe, like Bailey, did not know who the shooters were targetting.
"They were very close and I didn't really see anybody else out there," Radcliffe said. "It's just ironic, we were both in the same area at the same time and we don't know why the shots were fired, but they were fired. Someone could've been killed. One of my campaigners could've been killed. ... I could've been killed."
After Bailey spoke with police, Radcliffe, the current Morgan Park baseball coach, and Bailey both agreed they should leave the area.
"I went up to him, shook his hand and told him and his mother to be careful. We said it wasn't a good time for us to continue this," Radcliffe said.
Radcliffe, posted on his campaign Facebook page that he and his campaign members were "in great danger" Saturday.
"Ernest was out campaigning ... with his campaign crew when a shooting broke out," the post said.
Like Bailey, Radcliffe said the incident was an example of why they were seeking to become alderman.
"This is the reason our community needs to elect a new alderman because of the danger our community is in," Radcliffe wrote. "Ernest will not be scared off by no one. Ernest will stand his ground and continue to fight for his community while others are sitting by doing absolutely nothing."
"I will not stand by and do nothing, I will not be afraid of this mess, when I win this election you will see who really cares about our community," Radcliffe said via the release.
Bailey said "it's just sad that we're in this place in society that this is an option."
"These are the issues of our community, and I refuse to hide or let up on the fight to establish a better and safer community and continue to challenge the status quo. Incidents like this on serve to fortify me to ensure that resident and visitors never have to endure threats to life and property. I will not be intimidated. I will not be afraid," Bailey said.
Ald. Cochran could not immediately be reached for comment.
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