CHICAGO (CBS) — Dad and mom on Friday described a terrifying expertise as 23 gunshots rang out close to two highschool baseball video games and a observe meet on Chicago’s Southwest Aspect the night earlier than.
As CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported, nobody was injured when the photographs had been fired steps from the baseball subject from St. Rita of Cascia Excessive Faculty on South Western Avenue. However at the very least six vehicles had been hit by bullets, and the incident has left m any gamers and their households rattled.
Some dad and mom are asking for security measures to be put in place.
It was 5:15 p.m. Thursday, and the freshman and varsity video games had been beneath manner. Video from the dugout of the freshman baseball recreation between the St. Rita Freshman Mustangs and Marmion Academy exhibits everybody’s delayed response.
“Very unsettling – very unsettling for the shortage of respect for human life; the worth of human life,” stated the mother of 1 varsity participant who was on the sphere.
Gamers dropped to the bottom as quickly as they acknowledged what they had been listening to.
Hickey spoke with a number of dad and mom about their terrifying expertise watching from the stands Thursday night time. Most didn’t wish to be recognized due to security considerations.
“It took a minute, I believe, for me to even course of what was occurring,” the participant’s mother stated. “I’ve by no means skilled violent gunfire. The boys on the sphere hit the bottom.”
On the identical time the photographs had been fired, St. Rita grandparent Sabrina Johnson says her grandkids had been throughout the road.
“Swiftly, they noticed this automotive pull up they usually began taking pictures towards McDonald’s, in order that they bought to ducking and every part like that,” Johnson stated. “So it was actually terrifying.”
St. Rita is positioned at 7740 S. Western Ave. The gunfire rang out on the McDonald’s drive-thru steps away at 7832 S. Western Ave.
Some dad and mom stated they’ve had long-existing security considerations with that McDonald’s particularly. They’re advocating for a barrier of some type between the McDonald’s car parking zone and the St. Rita’s baseball subject proper behind it.
“It simply cannot be: ‘OK, effectively, no person was damage or killed. We simply go on and decide up the place we left off,'” the participant’s mom stated. “It must be addressed.”
We reached out to McDonald’s about their request. McDonald’s franchise owner-operator Vincent Hale issued this assertion:
“We’re deeply upset by this incident that happened in our car parking zone and are grateful there have been no accidents. We’re comfortable to debate methods we will work along with St. Rita’s on the security surrounding our restaurant and their college.”
St. Rita declined our request for an on-camera interview, however did ship us an announcement from Interim President Deacon John Donahue, saying:
“Yesterday’s incident in our neighborhood was disturbing and a tragic reminder that violence can happen anyplace at any time. We thank our safety workers and regulation enforcement for his or her fast response. We stay absolutely dedicated to the security of our college students, college, workers, dad and mom, and visitors.”