Jul 5, 2008 8:36 pm US/Central
Person Found Shot At Downtown 'L' Stop
Victim Treated and Released Saturday Evening
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Another shooting took place downtown at the beginning of the weekend, as police vow to beef up security to keep the Taste of Chicago safe.
A 22-year-old man was taken by paramedics from a CTA 'L' platform downtown to a waiting ambulance Saturday morning. As of 4:10 p.m. Saturday, he has been treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and released.
Police said the victim was with a group that encountered another group of people around 12:45 a.m. at Randolph Street and Michigan Avenue, near the Chicago Cultural Center.
The victim reportedly got into an altercation with a member of the second group and was shot in the torso. He was able to make his way to the CTA platform, before paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital in stable condition.
On Thursday, police were urged people to take cover as crowds left the July 3 fireworks display, after a shooting left one person dead and several others hurt. Police said the incident appeared to be gang related. Saturday morning's shooting and the one on July 3, both happened in areas not too far from the Taste of Chicago.
"Like every other act of violence in the city, it really concerns us," said Chicago Supt. Jody Weis. "We take it very seriously – especially at a venue like this where you have millions of people."
In response to the shootings, Weis said manpower is increasing at the Taste of Chicago.
"We'll have both uniformed officers and officers in covert status, that will mingle with the crowd and provide even higher, greater safety," he said.
Those visiting the Taste said they feel safe, especially when seeing the extra police presence that they have at the scene. There are officers on horseback, on foot and in squad cars.
"I just noticed a lot of police hanging around and it seems pretty safe," said Taste-goer Joyce Lawson.
"It happened at a different time of day," said Taste-goer John Biggs. "I don't think there's anything to be concerned about here at all."
One person told CBS 2 that she felt the shootings were isolated incidents and the chances of something like that happening again were slim.
The Taste of Chicago runs through Sunday evening.
Police at the CTA station checked surveillance cameras and identified the shooter as a man walking into the station. Officers boarded the train and found the armed man.
The man was charged with unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated discharge of a firearm, Central District Lt. Charles Flynn said. He was not charged for the shooting because the victim was reportedly uncooperative and did not want to press charges.
It was unclear whether the men initially involved in the altercation were leaving the fireworks display at nearby Grant Park.
Harrison Area detectives were investigating.
The Associated Press and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
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