Calumet City

1 Dead, 8 Injured in Shooting at Suburban House Party

A 19-year-old man was killed and eight others injured in a shooting during a house party in a south suburb of Chicago early Sunday morning.

Police received a call about shots fired at a residence in the 600 block of Escanaba Avenue in Calumet City at approximately 1:50 a.m. When police arrived, they say a large number of adults were fleeing from the house.

The shooting took place during a party in the basement of the residence with at least 150 young adults in attendance, according to police.

Dewayne Purnell, 19, died from gunshot wounds, and eight other victims were taken to area hospitals, two in critical condition, police said. The youngest victim is 15 years old.

Purnell's father said his son, who just turned 19 on Dec. 15, was supposed to leave for the Army in nine days. Purnell recently graduated from high school, and his father said he didn't go out to parties very often.

"He was in the house all the time," Donald Purnell, the victim's father, said. "He was putting up the Christmas tree yesterday with his sister."

Police said they had been called to the residence before but never for anything as serious as this incident.

Police are still searching for the gunman.

Calumet City detectives and the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force are continuing the investigation.

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