Mar 26, 2008 6:00 pm US/Central
Police Search For Shooter of 15-Year-Old Boy
Boy Is Latest Public School Student Caught In Recent Wave Of Gun Violence
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Gun violence on the South Side has wounded yet another Chicago public school student. A 15-year-old boy is in critical condition Wednesday after he was shot in the stomach.
It happened Tuesday night in the 8800 block of South Exchange Avenue in the Calumet Heights neighborhood. But new police Supt. Jody Weis maintains it's not just a "police problem."
It has been a rough number of months for young people here in the city. Eighteen Chicago Public Schools students have been shot and killed.
Witnesses told police 15-year-old Eric Reed was standing at 89th Street and South Exchange Avenue when he was shot in the stomach just after 9 p.m. But no one has offered a description of the gunman.
"We're talking to residents to come forward with any information they may have," said Chicago Police Department spokesperson Monique Bond.
Area residents say gang violence is on the rise in the South Chicago neighborhood.
"People here in this area not safe," said area resident Eugene Gomez. "We need protection."
"Sometimes when ain't no cops you see a bunch of gang bangers on the corners," Gomez added. "You don't know if another gang is gonna come from another place. You gonna get shot, too."
Twelve-year old Adamnesha Harris was shot and injured by gang crossfire two blocks away last Thursday. A 15-year-old was charged in that shooting
Tuesday night's victim is a 9th grader at one of the small schools in the Bowen High School building. The principal there would not comment about neighborhood violence. She preferred to keep students focused on their class work.
Weis told the Chicago crime commission Wednesday that police need tougher gun laws and parental involvement.
"Parents need to step up to teach their kids that picking up a gun is not the solution to solving a problem," Weis said.
Blue light cameras are positioned over the corner where the teen was shot Tuesday night. Investigators are reviewing the video recordings.
"We'll be looking for a vehicle, a suspicious person in the area," Bond said.
Reed is being treated at the University of Chicago's Comer Children's Hospital, which will not release information about him.
Police sources said he had taken a turn for the worse over Tuesday night into Wednesday, and was in critical condition.
CBS 2's Joanie Lum and Kristyn Hartman contributed to this report.
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