WEST GARFIELD PARK — A 12-year-old boy came running home from his West Side elementary school Thursday when gunfire erupted outside, leaving two people dead and one wounded, police and neighbors said.
Two men and a woman were shot in the 4300 block of West Wilcox Street at 4:04 p.m. Thursday, said Officer Thomas Sweeney, Chicago Police spokesman.
The victims were identified as Demetrius J. Tolliver, 23, of the same 4300 block of West Wilcox, and Dejenaba A. Altman, 43, of Cicero, in Cook County Medical Examiner's records. Tolliver was pronounced dead at 4:57 p.m. of a gunshot wound to his abdomen, while Altman was pronounced dead at 4:40 p.m. of multiple gunshot wounds.
Hefferan Elementary school is at 4409 W. Wilcox St., and police had the area taped off Thursday afternoon.
"Up to four" people fired shots after jumping out of a white minivan, Deputy Superintendent John Escalante said after arriving at the scene. The "early indications appear that this may be a gang-related shooting," he added, saying that at least one of the male victims was a known gang affiliate.
At the time of the shooting, Escalante said, a squad car was sitting outside the school and two Safe Passage workers were standing on the block.
"This is just another example of a senseless tragic killing that occurred halfway down the block from the school right behind us, which was still in session at the time," Escalante said. "The school did take appropriate action and went into lockdown."
Gladys Carter, who lives a block away from Kostner and Wilcox, said her 12-year-old son, Donte, came running home from school away from the gunfire.
"My baby came running home from school saying boys were shooting, and he saw a lady lying between two cars," Carter said. "He said 'Mama, she was dead.' He was sweating and shaking. I'm just glad it wasn't him. I'd die if my baby got shot."
Initially, police said two males were taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition and a woman was brought to Stroger Hospital also in critical condition. But the woman, 43, and one of the men, 23, did not survive, Escalante said. The surviving victim was a 16-year-old boy.
"This is just the beginning," said Carter's sister Fannie, who has two sons, ages 2 and 6. "They've been shooting every other day around here, and you just know there'll be a retaliation for this. From now on, only time I'm ever going outside is if I'm driving somewhere. S---, even in a car you ain't safe. Only way this stops is if God takes away all the guns."
Earlier Thursday, other shootings were reported:
• Around 4:50 p.m. Thursday, a 31-year-old man was standing in the 5500 block of South Hoyne Avenue in Englewood when someone walked up and shot at him, Sweeney said.
The man was was brought to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition, Sweeney said, where he was treated for multiple gunshot wounds.
• At 4:15 p.m., Sweeney said, a 25-year-old man was brought to Advocate Christ Medical Center after being shot in his back in the 7900 block of South Kenneth Avenue in the Scottsdale neighborhood.
Police could not provide any other information on the shooting.
• Around the same time, four people were standing in the 6800 block of South Throop Avenue in Englewood when someone shot at them from a passing car, Sweeney said.
Two 30-year-old men were taken to Saint Bernard Hospital, where they were listed in good condition with gunshot wounds in their feet, Sweeney said.
Another man, 43, was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center, Sweeney said, where he was listed in serious condition with a gunshot wound in his stomach.
The fourth man, 30, was taken to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was in fair condition with gunshot wounds in his hand and leg, Sweeney said.
• At 10 a.m. Thursday, a 19-year-old was shot while in East Garfield Park, according to police.
• A 26-year-old man was shot in Little Village close to 6 a.m. Thursday, police said.
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