NOBLE SQUARE — Those living on a typically-quiet Noble Square block were shaken up Tuesday and weighing their options after a shooting left one man dead and two others wounded late Monday.
Around 11:10 p.m., three men were standing on the sidewalk in the 1500 block of West Walton Street when another man walked up and shot at them, according to Officer Jose Estrada, a Chicago Police spokesman.
A 26-year-old man, who police say was a documented gang member, was pronounced dead on scene after being shot in his chest.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified the man as Eric Nieves, of the 900 block of North Kedvale Avenue.
Around 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Demaris Rivera, 28, who lives a few doors north of where the shooting took place, was returning home after dropping her two children off at school.
Rivera said she heard gunshots while she was watching television.
"I checked on the kids and 10 minutes later, the body was in middle of the street. They put up the red tape up right away," Rivera said.
Though her children, age 12 and 7, slept through the commotion, Rivera said herself and several neighbors gathered outside after the incident.
"For the most part it's quiet [on this street]. I was broken into once after I moved in about a year and a half ago and heard gunshots two months ago but that's it. My husband is thinking of moving to Iowa for a job. We weren't thinking about the safety [as being a reason to leave], but I want to leave," Rivera said.
Kristin McWilliams, a 25-year-old marketing representative who also lives on the block where the shootings took place, was getting into her car to head to work Tuesday, just a few feet from where rain had washed away bloodstains.
McWilliams, who previously lived in the Gold Coast, said she moved to Noble Square in February because the rent is much cheaper and it's easier to find parking.
At the time of the shootings, McWilliams said she was talking with her boyfriend on the phone.
"He was like 'Oh my, God, those are gunshots.' I looked outside and people were everywhere," McWilliams said.
McWilliams also said the street is usually quiet.
"I was scared last night but I'll get through it. It was crazy," McWilliams said.
Peter Gariepy and his wife were still awake and getting their 8-week-old daughter ready for bed when they heard five gunshots.
Gariepy said police told them the incident was related to an argument among gang members, and asked if anyone had heard a dispute prior to the shootings.
For neighbors interested in talking with local police, there will be a (CAPS) meeting for Noble Square Beat 1213 at the Northwest Settlement, 1012 N. Noble St. at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
The beat includes the area where the shootings took place. Gariepy said he plans to attend.
The two other men wounded in the shooting, ages 19 and 20, brought themselves to Stroger Hospital, police said.
The 20-year-old was listed in serious condition with a gunshot wound in the back of his head and the 19-year-old was "stable" with a gunshot wound in his right arm.
No one is in custody.
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