"Just drove by a serious crime scene on the 4600 block of Magnolia---on the west side of the street, in the front sidewalk of that big stone building. Tons of cops, ambulance with police talking to what I assume to be a victim inside, fire trucks, etc. There was a large pool of blood and a hat strewn on the walkway from the building to the sidewalk. When we drove by again, we saw cop cars in quick pursuit up and down the 4400 block of Racine and then west on Montrose. I hope you have this and more information already, as the scene was red and yellow taped off and looked pretty serious. Hope no innocent bystanders were hurt."
This seems to be followed by a shooting, and car pursuit. Will update.
Update: What readers are telling us:
- The stabbing victim is in critical condition and the assailant is in custody.
- Apparently shortly before 8pm, a Pontiac Bonneville with Wisconsin plates drove into the crowd at the scene of the stabbing on Magnolia. It had children in it, and the car jumped onto the sidewalk and hit a sign. There were shots fired, possibly by the police, as the car left the scene. The car was found at Clark and Wilson hooked up to a tow truck. The driver said he had picked it up on the 4400 block of Malden.
Update 2: An eyewitness writes in: "The fight started out near Wilson and Magnolia near 4609. The guy who got stabbed was saying 'Stop bullying me' to the other guy he was in a fight with. The guy started to leave when the other guy exclaimed 'I'm going to call the police'. He then chased after the bully and was stabbed. I was told by a neighbor his throat was slit. The stabber hid near the Magnolia Hotel, where the victim was bleeding. Cops showed up along with an ambulance. The ambulance ended up taking the guy out on a stretcher. He was passed out at the time and looked like he was going to fall off of it.
More police showed up and suddenly a shot broke out and a woman was screaming. That's when the gunfire happened. The stabber allegedly stole a woman's car near Leland and Magnolia with her children in the back seat. Police were drawing weapons when an officer yelled 'Don't shoot; there are kids in the car'. The stabber drove south down the east sidewalk, hitting a parked car along the way and damaging a wooden sign near Aardvark Insurance. He then turned west down Wilson and cops pursued. There are many news cameras out now on the block filming the clean up. What started as a stupid fight turned into a bloody mess."
Update 3: 9:30pm - The stabbing victim is in surgery. The car was apparently stolen or carjacked, and when the thief was driving away with the car, he turned onto Magnolia and found himself in the middle of a crime scene and much police activity that was there due to the stabbing. In an effort to elude the police, he drove into several cars, including police cars, and then drove onto the sidewalk.
But wait, there's more! There was also a large fight/mob scene at Wilson and Broadway shortly before 10pm. Guns were apparently involved and Lakeview Foods, in the Wilson Red Line station, had its windows destroyed. Police were there very quickly and are pursuing the offenders.
If you have any further information, please put it in the comments. If you have photos, please send them to us.
