SOUTH LOOP — A midday shooting Tuesday in the South Loop has raised the ire of the neighborhood alderman, who spoke Wednesday to the difficulties police face as they combat rising violence Downtown.
Ald. Pat Dowell (3rd) sent an email to constituents Wednesday describing the daytime shooting Tuesday in front of an apartment tower at 2001 S. Michigan Ave. No one was hurt, but the shooting provides another example of a troubling rise in Downtown gun violence Dowell admitted could be hard to stop.
Dowell said police arrested a suspect who traveled from the city's West Side before firing the shots.
"Protecting our city's residents is crucial, but there is no way to restrict the free movement of individuals across the city," Dowell said.
Two men were arguing before the shots were fired at 11:35 a.m. Tuesday near Long Grove House, an affordable housing tower at 2001 S. Michigan Ave., police news affairs officer Jose Estrada said. No one was hurt in the shooting, but two vehicles were damaged. Estrada said police were questioning two people of interest in relation to the crime, but declined to elaborate because charges have not yet been approved.
The fired shots occurred about 12 hours before a teenager was shot at Dearborn Street and Congress Parkway, the 10th shooting Downtown since Jan. 1 and the third in the past week. There were 11 shootings Downtown in all of 2015.
RELATED: Even Downtown Hasn't Been Spared From Chicago's Shooting Epidemic
Dowell commended police, who she said worked "immediately and effectively" to mitigate the midday shooting. But she also called for more police in the neighborhood, something she has "long advocated."
Dowell also deflected blame from Long Grove House, which she called an integral part of the South Loop since it was built in 1971.
"I strongly believe in promoting economic and demographic diversity within all of the neighborhoods in the 3rd Ward and Long Grove House, along with dozens of other similar properties across the Ward, help ensure that residents regardless of race or socio-economic level can have access to the neighborhood of their choosing," Dowell wrote. She noted CHA tenants who commit crimes or violate their leases can not only be evicted, but lose their housing vouchers permanently.
A receptionist at Long Grove House deferred questions to Chicago-based Habitat Co., which manages the building. A Habitat spokeswoman did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
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