A father became a victim of gun violence on Friday afternoon on Chicago’s South Side while heading out of town to his 6-year-old son's birthday party.
Ronald Smith and his family were riding in two vehicles at about 4:45 p.m. on Friday when Smith’s 27-year-old son was shot while driving in the 4300 block of South Halsted.
“As soon as we made a left, about 20-some shots,” Smith said. “We saw three guys standing right there on the corner.”
Smith’s son nearly lost control of the car after a bullet grazed his head, but was able to pull into a grocery store parking lot.
“He opened the door, and he collapsed on the ground, and I saw blood in the back of his head,” Smith said. “That’s when I really panicked.”
Several shots hit Smith’s son’s car, including one that nearly blew out the driver’s side window. Another shot fully blew out the back passenger window where three of Smith’s young grandchildren were hit by flying glass.
“I’m traumatized,” he said. “I couldn’t hardly sleep…”
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According to a report from Chicago police, three unknown men exited a black vehicle and started firing shots before fleeing the scene. The case remained under investigation by Area Central detectives as of Monday afternoon.
While Smith believed the shooting may have been a case of mistaken identity, he said his neighborhood and the surrounding community have become more dangerous recently.
“I just thank God it wasn’t meant for us to go,” Smith said.
