WEST TOWN — A hail of bullets damaged multiple cars on two West Town blocks earlier this week, leaving residents shaken.
"Wanda (the Honda) had a bad night. Shot six times. #timetomove," wrote Jonathan McDonald, who posted a photo of the damage to his 2009 Honda Civic on Instagram.
A 2011 Dodge Avenger that was parked behind McDonald's car in the 700 block of North Throop was damaged during the gunfire as well.
When McDonald's wife, Abigal Kime, jumped into the Honda around 6:30 a.m. to retrieve her belongings at the advice of their insurance company, the entire back window of the car shattered, she said.
The car had bullet holes in its roof, back and sides.
Kime had to stay home from work on Wednesday to deal with insurance and pick up a rental car.
On Thursday, Officer Jose Estrada, a Chicago police spokesman, confirmed the gunfire and damages.
"[Wednesday] morning around 7 a.m., officers responded to calls of criminal damage to vehicles," Estrada said. "Two residents awoke to find out that their cars parked on street had been damaged by gunfire. Officers had responded to several calls of shots fired around 11:30 p.m. the previous night."
No one is in custody for the shootings, Estrada said.
Reached late Thursday, McDonald, a longtime renter, said that "in the moment" when he posted the photo, he wanted to move because he was frustrated and concerned.
"We like our neighborhood and apartment, but it is tough to want to stay when you weigh rising rent and a declining sense of safety," McDonald said.
Claudia Jiron has lived on the 800 block of North Throop Street since 2011. She said the neighborhood usually has an uptick in shootings during the summer months.
"I was watching TV with the dog when I heard eight really loud shots. It didn't seem right. They sounded different," Jiron said. "In the summer, this is more prevalent to due to people driving by on Chicago Avenue."
A West Town resident, who did not want to be named, said he's lived on the block for 10 years. He told DNAinfo he heard the shots when he was outside having dinner.
"I've lived in Atlanta and Chicago, so I knew what it was right away," the resident said. "There's a reason why this was a reflection of what's happening in the world right now."
Samantha Lehnert, a student at University of Illinois at Chicago, moved to the area a month ago. She lives around the corner from where the shooting. She said she won't let the incident ruin her experience in the neighborhood.
"It's been quiet over here other than the usual parties," Lehnert said. "I don't think I'll be on edge. I'm not going to stay in the house because there's been a shooting. You got to keep on with your day."
The owner of the damaged Dodge Avenger, who used only his first name, Eric, said that he just moved to the area in June.
"I'm concerned about crime but don't think of it constantly. It's part of living in the city... Hope it's an isolated incident," Eric said.
A DNAinfo reader sent over a picture of his gunshot-riddled car and said it was the second time his car has been hit with bullets in the last three years.
He said he was happier with the police response this time around.
"When I called to report my car in 2013, the officer told me 'Wow, it sounds like you should move,'" he said.
On Wednesday, bullets struck three cars on a Lincoln Square block, police said.
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