82-Year-Old Man Critically Wounded in Triple Shooting on Chicago's South Side

An 82-year-old man was critically injured in a shooting that also wounded two other people on Chicago's South Side Thursday night, according to police, who said the elderly man was an innocent victim struck by a bullet intended for someone else.

Authorities said the shooting took place at around 10:40 p.m. in the 8200 block of South Wentworth Avenue in the city's Chatham neighborhood.

All three victims were walking outside when someone else on foot - wearing all black and a ski mask - opened fire, officials said.

A 22-year-old woman was shot in the shoulder and a 31-year-old man was shot in the ankle, according to police, who said both were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in stable condition.

Police said witnesses told them it appeared as though the gunman was aiming for the man and woman, who were walking a short distance behind, but separately from the 82-year-old man.

Though he was not the intended target, authorities said the elderly man was shot in the back and taken to the University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition.

The man's daughters identified him as Homer Donehue, a retired engineer and great-grandfather who has lived in the neighborhood for more than 50 years and was walking the dog when he was shot. 

Rhonda Donehue said her father had just left his house and was two doors from home when "gunfire erupted."

"He has a bullet lodged between his neck and his spine," she said. "It's just senseless, it's senseless nonsense in the city and it has to stop."

"The man does nothing to anyone, if you ask anybody, go over there on 82nd and Wentworth and they will tell you he loans anything out, he'll give you the shirt off his back," she said, asking, "Why did this happen to this man?"

No one was in custody in connection with the shooting, according to police, who continue to investigate.

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