A Mather High School student was shot during a fight after the class in Mather Park on Tuesday afternoon, officials said. The shooting is an escalation of continuous conflicts between groups of students at the school, according to some parents.
The first sign of problems came around 2.30 pm when the Chicago police received a call from 911 about a “gang disorder” outside the school. A caller of 911 reported that there had been ‘gang-related problems’, and one of the teenagers involved in the conflict today had a gun during an incident.
CPD sent patrol cars to maintain a presence outside the school during dismissal.
But there were problems brewing at the basketball courts in Mather Park, directly behind the school.
Around 3.15 pm callers reported that a crowd of young people, some who wore masks, had gathered at the basketball courts. Within a few minutes, shots were fired and children began to run for coverage, said witnesses.
“Employees and students were immediately returned to the building and the school was placed under soft lockdown,” said Ald. Andre Vasquez (40th). “CPD replied, confirmed that there was no threat to the school, lifted the Lockdown and remained on site to support the rest of the dismissal.”
First Responders did not immediately find victims, but a 17-year-old boy later appeared in the Evanston hospital with a shot wound on his left arm, according to CPD.
The boy told the police that he was in a vehicle in the 5900 block of North California when someone fired shots and hit him. Vasquez said the boy is a Mather -Student.
“The CPS crisis team will be on site tomorrow to support Mather -Students and employees. Moreover, CPD will be present for the resignation of school until further notice,” said Vasquez.
Witnesses described the shooter as a Spanish male teenager who wore a golden hoodie. He may have traveled in a white Nissan Altima.
A person who is familiar with the situation said that there have been tensions at the school between a group of Venezuelan students and other Spanish students.
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