72-Year-Old Man Shot During Robbery Attempt in Englewood
Three men shot a 72-year-old man during a robbery attempt in Englewood overnight, police said. The victim waited a long time to get help because nobody called 911 to report the shooting, and unfortunately, the neighborhood’s ShotSpotters were disconnected last year by the mayor.
Police officers in the Deering (9th) District heard gunfire around 1:16 a.m. near Ashland and Garfield. They pursued three men who ran away upon their approach.
Despite engaging in a foot chase, the officers were unable to apprehend the suspects. Minutes later, a 911 caller reported a man screaming in the 5600 block of South Justine, where the shooting victim was found.
The victim explained that three men demanded his belongings, and when he refused, one of them shot him in the left shin. The victim is currently in fair condition.
Descriptions provided by the victim matched those of the suspects pursued by the officers. It took approximately nine minutes from the time of the shooting until first responders were alerted to the incident.
The ShotSpotter gunfire detection network used to cover the neighborhood was discontinued by Mayor Brandon Johnson in September, despite efforts from Ald. Stephanie Coleman and others to keep it active.
Coleman expressed disappointment at the lack of a sound detecting system that could assist the police in saving lives in communities like Englewood. Efforts to raise funds to reinstate ShotSpotter were rebuffed by the mayor.
As of September 23, 2024, Chicago no longer utilizes ShotSpotter in its violence-impacted neighborhoods, a decision that has faced criticism from various stakeholders.
The reporting series “Brandon’s Bodies” aims to highlight cases where gunshot detection technology could have aided in police investigations and potentially saved lives.
Editor’s note: Case #13 from the series has been removed due to new information from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
