Two Shot Near Dolton High School Basketball Game

A 17-year-old boy was shot in the side and abdomen, and a 20-year-old man was shot in the buttocks

A man and a teenager were shot Tuesday night in south suburban Dolton, about a block away from a basketball game at Thornridge High School.

A group of five or six people were walking along 152nd Street near Champlain Street just before 6:30 p.m. when someone got out of a black minivan or SUV and shot at them, Dolton Police Chief John Franklin said.

They scattered, and some ran to nearby Thornridge High School where they notified security guards for the basketball game, who called 911.

"They ran back toward the school because it was well lit [and] squad cars are parked out front. It was a point of safety for them, apparently, because they see all the police," said Dolton police Cmdr. Harry Blaudin

A 17-year-old boy was shot in the side and abdomen, and a 20-year-old man was shot in the buttocks, police said.

Both were initially taken to Franciscan St. Margaret Health in Hammond, Ind., but the teen was later transferred to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The teen was listed in critical condition, and the man was in stable-to-good condition, police said. Both were able to talk to paramedics while they were put in ambulances.

Thornridge High School, at 15000 Cottage Grove Ave., was hosting a varsity boys basketball game against Thornwood High School.

Thornridge principal James Walton said the shooting did not have anything to do with the school.

"This was a community incident," Walton said.

Police said neither of the people shot were Thornridge students. Authorities could not immediately say where they were walking to or from when the attack happened.

The game was not paused and continued as scheduled. School officials and security at the game were encouraging students to make sure their rides were there for them when the game let out about 7:30 p.m.

Authorities did not have a description of the shooters and asked anyone with information on the attack to call Dolton police.

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