GREATER GRAND CROSSING — A bar that has been a community staple on the South Side for 25 years was the scene of a deadly shooting overnight Friday, and some neighbors are questioning whether the Fifty Yard Line's good neighbor status has expired.
A 29-year-old man is dead and 32-year-old man was seriously wounded after a fight broke out at the Fifty Yard Line, 69 E. 75th St. According to police, a fight between patrons led someone to pull out a gun and open fire around 1:40 a.m. Friday, said Officer Janel Sedevic, Chicago Police spokeswoman.
A 26-year-old woman trying to leave the violent scene was also hit by a car, police said.
RELATED: SHOTS RING OUT AT 50 YARD LINE BAR; 1 DEAD, 1 WOUNDED, POLICE SAY
The shooter was a regular of the bar who frequently worked security there, said Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th). He said the shooting stemmed from a fight that got out of hand.
Police apprehended the shooter shortly after the incident and charges are pending, Sedevic said.
The shooting has shocked some who view the Fifty Yard Line as a pillar of the community.
Sawyer said the bar has been in Greater Grand Crossing for more than 25 years, and that the owners, a couple in their 70's, are active in the community.
"They're very good people and good community partners," Sawyer said. "They're a little shaken right now."
Some neighbors, however, said the place needs to clean up its act.
Neighbors last year began circulating an online petition asking the city and police to clamp down on noise and other problems stemming from the bar. Though the petition does not complain of violence, it does say that loitering as well as drinking and weed smoking outside the bar is problematic.
The bar's owners could not be reached Friday and an employee declined to comment.
"All they got is gang bangers and old fools trying to pick up young girls," said Shirley Jones, who lives blocks from the bar. "I've lived here 36 years and I've never stepped foot in there."
Jones said news of the shooting didn't come as much of a surprise, and said she warned her friends to stay away.
Another Grand Crossing resident, who said he visited the bar when it first opened, was surprised to hear of Friday morning's violence.
"I can't really believe that," said the 47-year-old, who declined to give his name.
The man said all it takes is a few bad people to ruin a good community business.
"You never can tell what's gonna happen," he said. "Somebody can be arguing over a woman and get to shooting. You find crazy people everywhere, man."
A sign in the door of the bar says it does not allow patrons under 25 to enter.
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