1 dead, 2 Hurt in Shooting at South Side Park

The shooting happened at Davis Square Park in the Back of Yards neighborhood

One person has died and two others were wounded after a shooting at a park in the South Side Back of Yards neighborhood on Saturday.

"It's a shame that this is going on in the neighborhood," said Delilah Mediola, who was at Davis Square Park where the shooting took place just steps away from the playground. "There are people who are innocent and not involved in any gang activity."

Witnesses on the scene said a man approached a group of teenagers at the park yelling gang affiliations and then opened fire. The shooting happened at 12:53 p.m. in the 4300 block of South Marshfield Avenue, according to police News Affairs Officer John Mirabelli.

One of the victims fled the scene and went home to call police, Mirabelli said.

A 27-year-old man, who was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, has died from his injuries, police said. Witnesses said the victim was mentally challenged and had just walked up to the group of teenagers to say hello.

"He talked to everyone, he didn't disrespect no one," said Vanessa Solorio who was standing with her boyfriend when the man approached them while their backs were turned. "He didn't deserve to die like that."

The other two victims were males in their teens, and were both reported to be in good condition, according to police News Affairs Officer Daniel O’Brien.

One, who was taken to Mercy Hospital, suffered a gunshot wound to an elbow, and the other, who was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital at the University of Chicago Medical Centers, had a gunshot wound to the abdomen, O’Brien said.

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