WEST RIDGE — Recent shootings in West Ridge stem from the same gangs and conflicts driving violence on the West and South sides, police and elected officials said at a community meeting Tuesday.
Two people have been killed and seven wounded in West Ridge shootings since April 1, according to records kept by DNAinfo.
Many of the recent shootings were gang related, and many involve gangs or individuals from all over the city, said Cmdr. Roberto Nieves of the Rogers Park district.
"The gangs that affect us here, believe it or not, are the same ones in Englewood, in Skokie," Nieves said. "They travel."
Police brass, including Deputy Supt. John Escalante, visited with West Ridge residents Tuesday at the Bernard Horwich center, 3003 W. Touhy Ave. Hosted by Ald. Debra Silverstein (50th), the meeting was intended as a way for new Supt. Eddie Johnson to meet with residents, but Johnson was in Washington D.C. for a meeting of police superintendents.
A few residents asked about the recent gun violence and what can be done to stop it.
Silverstein agreed that West Ridge's gun violence isn't different from the violence plaguing other areas.
"The gangs are coming from all over," she said. "Sometimes they travel to our ward and unfortunately, sometimes things happen."
Nieves used one recent shooting to highlight the problem. On June 25, a local woman was with another man when they left a North Side beach and came back to West Ridge.
The two drove back to West Ridge and were followed by people who intended to hurt the man, a documented gang member, Nieves said. Both the man and woman were shot while sitting at a red light in the 6800 block of North Ridge Boulevard.
Nieves said the department works proactively to reduce gun violence in the area by visiting the homes of gang members and even sending "custom notifications" to individuals who might contribute to violence.
"We go to their homes," he said. "We deliver a simple message that violence will not be tolerated and that we also have social services in place.
"We're making huge progress with the Latin Kings," Nieves said.
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