Friday, August 29, 2008

3 Shot, 1 Dead, On Sheridan Road





These photos, and some that are linked to in the comments, are of a real person. He was a neighbor to those of us who live in Uptown and a friend to some of our readers. These photos may evoke strong emotions. Please be prepared if you make the decision to click on them or on the links contained in the comments.

UPDATE# 6: Tom Mannis at "The Bench" shares his account of this afternoon's shootings as well as the memorial that took place the evening. Read about it here.

UPDATE #5: Lorraine Swanson just released a News-Star "Web-Extra" on this afternoon's shooting. Read all about it here.

UPDATE #4: A reader just sent in more photos of the scene of the crime which is indeed in front of the proposed Labor Ready location on Sheridan. Another reader tells us that a memorial of candles is now up where the victim was found.

UPDATE #3: Check out Channel 2's coverage here. It mentions the second victim is in critical condition.

UPDATE #2: News crews from many media outlets are on the scene. Sheridan has been closed between Lawrence and Gunnison, and police are directing traffic away from the area. Avoid driving there if you can; traffic's a mess.

UPDATE: Witnesses tell us that one victim was dead on the scene, so one shooting is now a homicide. The body was in front of 4830 Sheridan (the proposed site of Labor Ready). The other victim was gunned down in Weiss Plaza (the JJ Pepper strip mall), and was taken to the hospital in unknown condition.

We're just shaking our heads in sadness, disbelief and disgust with this summer of senseless violence in our community.

Around 3:20 p.m. today, there were two separate shootings within a couple minutes of each other, at JJ Peppers (Lawrence & Sheridan) and a half block away, at Gunnison & Sheridan. Two people were injured, and witnesses tell us that -- judging from the wailing of women who saw the victims being taken away -- these may have been more than "flesh wounds."

We'll keep you informed as we receive new information.

101 comments:

  1. I just checked out the crime scene. One person, face down with a white sheet over him. I saw at least 7 or 8 shell casings (9mm or .40 cal) about 30 yards away.

    I also saw a TON of cops and 2 wagons in the parking lot kitty corner to the Aragon Ball room. I suspect the bad guys were chased and grabbed there....

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  2. I live one block away. I heard six distinct shots,,,3, followed a few seconds later by 3 more.

    What the hell will it take? Another dead human being. I am so freeking sick and tired of all the apologists on here... this is exactly what happens when you concentrate poverty and gangs in one neighborhood!

    We all, regardless of where we live or what we do, deserve a SAFE neighborhood. WHEN WILL HELEN FINALLY STAND UP AND, LIKE BARACK, SAY... ENOUGH!

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  3. My children and I are in disblief because we know the victim and his family. Being a 25 year resident of uptown I don't feel safe ANYMORE.

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  4. anonymousuptown, as someone who's lost friends to violence, I'm so sorry. Many will assume this, so I'm going to ask: Was he involved with gangs? Or could this have been a random attack?

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  5. Anonymous, I am sorry you knew the person. I think it is a good reminder that every victim leaves behind families and friends.

    This just needs to finally stop for God's sake, and the sake of our children!

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  6. Another broad daylight shooting. I should be used to the boldness but once again it shocks me. WTF? It's like they don't care because they're not worried about any consequences. Or are they just stupid? Or both?

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  7. Wow, great job on the quick photo turnover...

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  8. Knowing from extensive professional experience, they simply do not care. They do not think more than 5-minutes in the future. They are violent, ingorant, dumb, sociopathic animals. I think that most of them never regret their actions, as they are equally as happy in prison as they are in the street. Prison, for these animals, is kind of like a fraternity - they get to lay around, play basketball, roll dice, and not work.

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  9. Trumansquarenabr I'm not sure if he was a gang member. But I also lost my only brother 15 years ago on hazel. So I know all to well what his family is going through.

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  10. Uptown superhero that's why you and I and other posted need to fight to stop WY because it's going to get worse.

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  11. I kinda thought that, chicagocitizen, but I was kinda hoping for stupid. I know it may be weird logic, but a "stupid" person doing this I could see. They dumb, can't think. But to know that it's a person who just doesn't care that there are kids around or innocent people arount, man, that's a little scarier to me for some reason. Sort of like a terrorist with a bomb strapped to him. Come to think of it...

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  12. Is there any significance the fact that quite a few of these incidents seem to happen in the afternoon around this time? What are the ages of the suspects (if they are caught). I know gangbangers don't care about curfew, but are these guys doing it in the afternoon because they can't be on the street after a certain time of night without drawing police suspicion?

    stupid theory, I know...

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  13. The thought of whether there are potential bystanders around would never give these killers pause. The only thing that may retrospectively bother them is additional charges they would face down the road. Killing an innocent child or person would present no more guilt, remorse, regret, or sadness than the average person might feel at swatting a mosquito at a picnic. They are filthy animals.

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  14. This makes me sick. I get so mad that this happens in our neighborhood almost weekly at this time of the day.

    What is it going to take to stop this? Another march? A gang sitdown? One day after a historic speech in Denver and back to the same old shit(Sorry UU)

    How many times have we asked to get a camera up in this area? This corner is dangerous.

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  15. If we do a march, it should FINALLY be in front of Helens home... and yes, now, it is personal towards her. She continues to say nothing and do nothing. And as my tax money pays my salary and I can never reach her at her office, it is time to make this personal to her as well..

    .. but I am sure HELEN feels safe in her condo worth hundreds of thousands of dollars on a nice safe street with no Section 8 housing or meth clinics etc., in the heart of ANDERSONVILLE...

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  16. This is literally right by my house. I walked by the scene when I got home. It's scary to think that if I had left work earlier like I had planned I could have been an eyewitness tho this.

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  17. "If we do a march, it should FINALLY be in front of Helens home"

    I wonder if Helen's Chief of Staff would be there to greet the protesters with a baseball bat like the last protest.

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  18. If there is a march to Hell-en's home, let me know when and where to meet.

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  19. 3:20 p.m.? Anyone know when CPS get out? There is an elementary school right across the street!!! This has to stop!

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  20. I see young kids walking by themselves home from school right at this very spot. There is a little convenience store there and kids (probably from the Boys and Girls Club across the street) go there to buy snacks. Couldn't the person who did this even think about those innocent little kids before they decided to resolve a dispute this way!?

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  21. Thanks for the map. However, they are STILL missing Francis Oduro's murder on their little map of Chicago mayhem and murder.

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  22. I think school starts next week. That makes it even more scary to know this stuff is showing no signs of slowing. Im writing my local leaders right now...not including Helen Shiller.

    Im down for a march on her house.

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  23. Right, duh, school starts next week for CPS. I'm not thinking clearly. I wasn't there but I would put down a fair amount of $$$ that there were kids outside of the boys and girls club at that time.

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  24. No one is in custody. ABC gave it about 10 seconds on the 6pm news.

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  25. I'm will totally march in front of Helen's home. Please, let's do this. It is very personal. I drove by that same area at 3:10pm exactly. I noticed a lot of loitering around the area and made note of the time.

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  26. Helen LOVES these types of stories. She LOVES that it makes the news, LOVES that no arrests are made, LOVES that it happens in the afternoon on busy street. She LOVES things that deter "white yuppie condo buyers" out of the area. As far as current residents, she knows you are not going to vote for her any and therefore could care less that this upsets you. Helen is a classic SOCIOPATH.

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  27. I spoke to a gentleman on Castlewood who spoke to police and said that two guys were taken into custody. The weapon is still missing and possibly in someone's garden somewhere in the area. So keep a close eye on your children and make sure they don't pick up anything without you knowing.

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  28. If the weapon is indeed still missing, citizens should get together and do a walk in the surrounding blocks to look for it. I helped the police recover a gun thrown from a car late at night this spring.

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  29. Yeah. That's easy to do, Dan. I almost got a t-shirt made that said "we don't eat rocks." That's how much my kids listen to me and how much I can really pre-empt a lot of their behavior!

    Seriously, thanks for the heads-up and the information. But none of us should have to be in this position.

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  30. I've been a suscriber to UU for a week now. I've also been to FixWilsonYard.

    This is the last straw and it's time for me to act.

    I will donate to Fix Wilson Yard soon and I have other ideas in mind to fundraise.

    It is time to act.

    If a rally to Helen Shiller's house is planned, please post on UU.

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  31. Chicagocitizen, I haven't seen you post before on this blog. You are coming across pretty extremely. I hope you are not trying to fan any flames.

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  32. Ignore the racial undertones. Bullets rip through white and black skin the same. That is a new poster fanning the flames of Uptown steriotypes.

    Lets email a few Uptown groups see if they and a March next week.

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  33. I have posted here many, many times. My insights are both professional and personal. These killers are animals.

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  34. To say that this is an African American Issue is totally incorrect. It is a social/human issue and it touches us all; rich, poor, young, old, black, hispanic, asian, and white.

    Crimes of this nature occur because of gangs, drugs, and the concentration of the two. And to set the record straight, poor people are not the cause of the problems.

    So until we get rid of the drug sellers, manufacturers, and buyers, crimes of this nature will continue. Just last week I saw a white young professional stop his BMW in an alley near my place and buy some drugs. So the middle class and rich are not excluded from the prevalence of crime in our area. We need to stop the concentration of these acts by donating to the fix Wilson yard fund and keep our area truly diverse and not a haven for the concentration of crime.

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  35. I'm down for a march, just make sure it's after 5 so I have time to get home from work.

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  36. dan said...
    So until we get rid of the drug sellers, manufacturers, and buyers, crimes of this nature will continue.

    Praise the lord and pass the gin.

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  37. Heard from a neighbor one of the victims was a 13-year old boy.

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  38. I think the weekly shootings in our neighborhood in broad daylight is going to accomplish what the gangbangers are wanting. Total territory control. I've been mashing out a choice to stay or go when my lease is up in the spring. I'm going. 12 years in this war zone is enough. As far as getting hit in a drive by, it's just a question of 'when'. I live across from Clarendon Park and it's a huge hangout for people up to no good. Daley scoffs at Blogo bringing in the National Guard to curb crime. Given that Uptown's murder rate resembles the casualties in Irag, I think the National Guard is a great idea. Send them to Uptown first.

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  39. I live in the Sheridan Grande (4848 N). I for one am sick to death of these shootings and thank my lucky stars every day that I didn't buy a unit here. Sadly, my lease isn't up until next June. I hope I can dodge the bullets and survive until then, when I will pack up and move back downtown. I deserve to live in a safer neighborhood - we all do. I don't have the energy or strength to try and change things here, especially when Helen Shiller cares even less about us than the gang members do. I wish those of you who stay all the best...

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  40. This sucks.

    As a former 3+ year employee of the Girls and Boys Clubs of America, it really sickens me to see that this happened right in front of there, at this time. I love that organization and I know they make a huge difference in the lives of these at-risk youth. It is one of those institutions that we should all invest in to make our communities safer.

    Sad state of affairs when this happens so regularly, and so close to home.

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  41. There's a memorial there with a large sign that says "RIP Tim." Lots of candles burning and folks hanging out.

    And, not surprisingly, a TON of police presence, both around the memorial and at Leland (which is, I've heard, the dividing line between gang turf).

    I agree with those who say these thugs mustn't be able to continue their terrorism on our streets. But as an aunt with many nephews, I know what it's like to see them born, to look at them when they weigh seven pounds and hope their whole life is successful, happy, and safe. I didn't know "Tim" or what he was like. But I do know that he had friends who felt strongly enough about him to be mourning in the streets. I'm reasonably sure his mother, or grandmother, or aunt, looked at him when he was born and wanted the same things for him that I want for my nephews. So it breaks my heart that another kid was killed on our streets, for some ridiculous reason that will change nothing.

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  42. I used to live on Gunnison, a half a block from where this shooting happened. We moved in Feb 2007 because I no longer felt safe taking walks in the middle of the day with my newborn baby. I think the area has gotten a lot worse in the past 18 months. The way I see it, the area is an open-air jail, loosely bordered by Foster, Clark/Broadway, Montrose, and the lake...just the way the police like it. The violence is unacceptable and disgusting, and I am sick and tired of it!

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  43. Headline from the "Crime & Safety" page on the 46th Ward website:

    "Enforcement, Prevention and Alternatives have worked"

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  44. Helen has proven many times over that she's out of touch with the pain in this community.

    Denise, I understand this isn't heaven, but it's where I live for now and I want to know that my alderman is at least willing to show a little concern about the horrible effect of gangs in this neighborhood. I want to see her work with the police, CAPS, and residential buildings to keep the gangs out of here. That's not a high expectation in most other wards, but it is here.

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  45. I have said it before, nothing makes Shiller happier than horrible stories like this. She does not care about the poor, she does not care about diversity or minorities. She is a SOCIOPATH who only cares about herself.

    As such, she LOVES daylight murders because they deter good law abiding citizens and families from moving here (and actually drives current residents out) to ensure that the derelects, mentally ill, drug dealers, junkies, and gang members she can round up on election day will delivery another victory. She LOVES that the shooters are not arrested. She LOVES that the stretch of Broadway where her office lies is the most barren and run down on the North Side. She LOVES that piles of drunken or strung out scumbags are visible at many corners, alleys, and parks,

    She LOVES this and as a SOCIOPATH, she probably gets a kick out the outrage, sadness, and fear this creates for the likes of us to frequent Uptown Update. She may even enjoy the attention of a march to her condo, other than the annoyance it may cause of having to pretend to respond.

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  46. I walked over to the site of the shooting this morning and his friends have memorialized him there. I met someone who knows the family. This person said that Tim was in a gang but no longer. He left the area and joined a church but his family still lives here. This person felt that he was trying to put the gang life behind him but whoever shot him didn't want that to happen. I am sure we will hear more about what happened from the official news sources.

    Anyway, I thought I would share that there is a family grieving on Lakeside today and I am as well because I want to see the kids who get out of gangs succeed. I suppose there will be lots of supposition about whether he really was in a gang...or whether he really was out of the gang...and also discussion about how the local teens decided to memorialize him (with spraypaint on the street, on the building and with bottles of alcohol.)

    As for me, it breaks my heart that there might have been someone who tried to turn their life around (just as everyone is asking them to do) and this is how it ended for them. I know the answer is not to tangle with the gangs in the first place but some of these kids get in so young. Take care, S

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  47. http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s350/pond_up2u/IMAG0175.jpg
    http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s350/pond_up2u/IMAG0171.jpg
    http://i510.photobucket.com/albums/s350/pond_up2u/IMAG0169.jpg

    I was in there. I happen so fast. This are my photo that I took

    WT (paul)

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  48. Those photos are disturbing and heartbreaking.

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  49. wow, powerful and gruesome images POND.

    Scenes like this are broadcast daily from the streets of Baghdad, and sadly it's easy to become numb.

    This mindless violence happens here, all too frequently.

    When is Shiller going to face the 'war' here?

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  50. Pondup2u..

    Wow those photos tell the story well.

    I wonder where are all the "white shirt" defenders from the post last week? Look at these photos! From Sakia's post it said he was out of the gang, yet I'll be damned they shot him. Look at his "urban" wear.

    And witness said the shooter ditched his white shirt as well. Maybe its time to start getting ID's in gang areas when people buy them the same way we do to curb meth production with cough syrup.

    I hope everyone prints out this photo and mails it to Helen Shiller.

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  51. Recall Shiller

    Write your state reps about putting an Alderman recall legislation in to law.

    Also can we get Daley to fire Jody Weis, the cops simply don't like him so won't work for him.

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  52. The photos are so disturbing, but I appreciate that they were posted. I am all for truth in journalism. We should blow them up into posters and put them all over Uptown.

    My friend and I were at the scene yesterday. How depressing that area is. Everything east of Broadway/Sheridan truly is like an open air prison as someone earlier posted. I just kept thinking of Hamsterdam in "The Wire."

    We talk about how a development like Wilson Yard is an example of another attempt to warehouse the poor in a concentrated area, which would lead to an increase in crime. It's all low-income high rises over there. I just cannot fathom how any average person would not make the link between this and crime. What is so sad is that Helen Shiller made it her mission to be the architect of this obviously failed experiment. I think that she consistently refuses to address the issues but rather continues to plow full steam ahead because doing anything else would force her to confront the crippling guilt she would feel once she realized that her misguided ideals had a huge hand in creating this mess.

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  53. Here are links to the pictures for lazy people such as myself:

    Image 1
    Image 2
    Image 3

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  54. The pictures don't show anything worse than what one would see in a PG-13 movie, but people should know there are images of the murder victim's body. Knowing that it's real and not a movie makes these pictures very, very disturbing and not for the faint of heart.

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  55. Those photos are really sad and scary. This happening in our neighborhood in broad daylight is really frightening and tragic. People are getting killed, shot on a busy street right in the middle of the day. I don't know what goes through a young man's mind while he is picking up his gun and taking it out into the streets with him to murder someone in the middle of the afternoon; but I do think that calling this man an animal or a terrorist is detrimental, because it causes people to want to hurt this man who picks up his gun and ignore the problems inherent in a capitalist society, one that is clearly racist, it ignores the problems that create this situation; I don't completly discount personal accountability, but I also understand what occurs in the day to day reality of these young boys and the forces at play in their lives, the choices they are left with, and the reality of their futures. I don't know how to fix institutionalized racism, but ignoring it while humans are being shot on our streets can only create a form of escape from the reality facing all of us, and allow human beings to be demonized instead of understood. Yes a march at Shiller's house needs to happen, we all have to make our voices heard, to show how sad and scared we are. I think that it is incredibly sad that a another person was murdered in her ward, and there is no sign of grievance for this person or acknowledgment of this tragedy on her site. It is really upsetting that young men are murdered and getting shot, and she completely ignores what is happening and mocks the fear of the people who live here. We all need to empathize with the situations of those around us, and what reality is like for other people, and not stereotype people, or call them animals. We can work on this problem, but we have to face the racism in our society and really take an honest look at how we treat/view each other, we have to work to get people out of this situation, the government is not going to do it, and moving is not going to fix it, people will continue to get shot, but less people will care. Race is a just an accident of birth, it is so random and insignificant in our function as a human, yet it carries with it the biggest burdens and the saddest consequences. I am just so sorry for this man's family, and I hope we can all work to stop this from happening again.

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  56. Give the family and loved ones some time to grieve before blowing up the images to use as a very powerful statement. We can't imagine what they are going through. Those images are real folks, not a movie or video game. That body on the sidewalk has many real loved ones attached to it. It is not just pixels.

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  57. I just viewed the photos and still can't believe that it's Timothy. I know the family very well. He leaves behind 3 sisters and a nephew. He was his mom's ONLY son. His sister was just marching down Magnolia earlier that day with the Uplift Marching Band. And a few hours later your brother is killed on the streets of uptown. There's no place safe for our children or ourselves for that matter. I moved from the building where tim's family lives to an area where a family has taken over our building with illegal activities. When I moved here I questioned myself "did I make the right decision concerning my children". It's SAD!!! I just want everyone to know that they're are alot of us law abiding low income residents that wants the streets of Uptown to be safe for EVERYONE.

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  58. He was a gang banger I take it?

    Shiller needs to address this and make this community safe.

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  59. Ok, I live just into the 48th ward in Edgewater on Sheridan Road...but I walk down Sheridan through the area of the shootings sometimes EVERY weekend. Up until now I never felt the area was unsafe or that a shooting could occur in broad daylight. I'm sick and tired of these headlines!

    I wish there was more we could do as neighbors to the North of Uptown to get Shiller and CPD's attention to this serious uptick in violence. I have chatted with Mary Ann Smith before and she is VERY upset and concerned that so much violence has been occurring immediately to our South. At least she understands that promoting business development in the Lawrence/Broadway area, especially businesses that are open late at night do much more to deter crime than even more police patrols could do.

    At least that school right there wasn't in session yet. That would have been right around dismissal time right?

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  60. Anonymous who knows tim's family, if the place where you live has been taken over by gangs or drug dealers (a bit redundant i know), fill out a sheet at this link and the police will investigate it. it gives them cause to investigate.

    http://weupdateuptown.googlepages.com/filestodownload

    Tim was no longer in a gang? sadly, it seems as if a large majority of those killed by gang members "used to be in a gang, but got out of it." If he was no longer in a gang, then why hang out in the same area and dress like the other gangbangers? If he knows the dangers of being near his "former" gang, then why take the chance? Was he just stopping back for a quick visit of family and friends, or was he still in the gang? Old habits are hard to break.

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  61. Helen Shiller responds on her website!!!!

    Here is her latest update: (and you all think UU is needed!)
    The screening of Dirty Dancing will be rescheduled due to the weather forecast. It will be shown instead on Thursday, September 4th.

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  62. This tragedy is further proof that Shiller's plan for Wilson Yard is recipe for continued violence.

    As dangerous and scary as it sometimes seems for the middle class in Uptown, it is the poor who are truly at risk. The current plan for Wilson Yard will add several hundred more in a concentrated spot. The seniors will be prime targets for muggings and the children will be easy prey for gangs to recruit and/or sell drugs to.

    Uptown is unacceptably dangerous for its current population of at risk youth and seniors, but instead of taking steps to improve safety, Shiller is foolishly adding more future victims to the mix.

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  63. Confused,
    Could you please edit your comment with the photo links and add a warning to them. They are very graphic and not intended for every person to see who happens to click the link. Thanks.

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  64. The scene of the shooting is literally on the border of the ward - had the victims been shot across the street it would have been in Mary Ann Smith's ward. I hope those of you who live east of Sheridan and north of Lawrence are making your anger known to your alderman, who seems to have the conscience that the alderman across the street does not. The Sheridan/Lawrence corner is becoming like a war zone, and if alderman who represents three corners of it (Helen) won't do anything, then we need to start demanding the alderman who represents one corner of it (Mary Ann) does.

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  65. Shiller LOVES it!!!! She could use these horrible pictures as the cover for her "How to Get Re-Elected in Uptown" manual. I'm sure she will enjoy secretly mocking you "racist Condo owning yuppies" who are upset about this, with her typical go-back-to-the-suburbs approach.

    How could any other alderman in the city get away with offering ZERO public response to her constituants/citizens following an afternoon tragedy like this? Answer: They couldn't and wouldn't.

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  66. Another feather in "Alderman Shiller's" cap.

    She really has control of her ward.

    She really cares about a safe and composed community.

    "Progress" and "Alderman Shiller" are truly synonymous.


    One question - what will it take for her to take back control of her ward?

    Or...is she waiting for the next low income housing installation to go up in Wilson Yard?

    Can someone please tell us why "Alderman Shiller" continues to let her ward deteriorate?

    I live 100 feet from the shooting in her ward...however I am in Alderman Mary Ann Smith's ward. Alderman Shiller lack of concern for the inhabitants of her ward and blatant disregard for those in the periphery of her ward is truly unfortunate, and to be utterly blunt -- alarming.

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  67. Supposedly the two lads were Gangsta Disciples- there is a turf war going on in our front yard and it has now given away to violence on a new block-

    IT IS NOT GETTING BETTER HELEN. IT IS GETTING WORSE.

    DO SOMETHING, PLEASE!

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  68. I am by no means implying that anyone deserves such things, but the vast majority of SCUMBAGS sitting in Cook County Jail awaiting trial for violent crimes (murder, sexual assault, aggravated assault, weapons charges) claim that they "used to be in a gang" but got out. They all claim that they now attend church, sing in the choir, and help old lady's cross the street. While it is possible for someone to actuall escape a gang lifestyle, hanging around a drug and gang corner wearing a standard gang uniform is not going to do it.

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  69. I agree Chris as a low income resident I DONT agree with WY coming to uptown. But if WE don't do something its going to get worse.

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  70. here's something you can do. visit www.fixwilsonyard.org and make a donation!

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  71. Why would Helen do anything? She LOVES this, nothing could be better for her. She views one worthless life as maybe plus 5 votes for her of the derelcts she rounds up and maybe minus 5 votes against her of "yuppie scum" who now won't move to the area after reading about this tragedy.

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  72. Mary Ann Smith and the other Alderman surrounding the warzone otherwise known as Uptown.. WHAT ARE YOU DOING ? Or, are you too afraid of Helen? Or does Daley have too much power for you to speak up?

    OTHER AREA ALDERMAN,,, where is your conscience? WHAT SPECIFICIALLY ARE YOU DOING TO HELP?

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  73. She needs to be forced out now. This is outrageous!

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  74. Ald. Shiller has a lot of support in 920 Lakeside. I'm frankly very surprised she hasn't made a statement, at the very least.

    When the son of one of her office workers, Pam Barton, was murdered in a very similar fashion a few years ago, the alderman was all over the place, in the papers, etc. The Trib gave him a huge obituary/news story.

    Maybe she's boxed herself into a corner, because she's never addressed any of the murders or gunfire before, including the one that happened just outside her office.

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  75. I live right there, and I went to J.J. Pepper at 4:00 PM, and there were cops everywhere. Did the shooter use a car, or did he get away on foot? Is there a description of the shooter?

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  76. Good thing Daley doesn't allow handguns in Chicago. One of the old folks strolling down the street may have popped a cap in the killa's ass. Wouldn't want that now. Instead, make it so only the gangbangers are the ones carrying. Smart politics. Why again are these people getting re-elected time and time again?

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  77. I notice that whenever we have a tragedy, people complain that the Government is not doing enough. I wonder why people seldom ask, "What can my loved ones and I do?" I guess Learned Helplessness is always the easiest route to one's end, and people notoriously prefer the easiest route to any end.

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  78. 'JOE', I think most people aren't wondering why the 'government' isn't doing enough.....I think most people are wondering why Alderman Helen Shiller has created this tainted Petrie dish of a failed experiment up here.
    I'm wondering why she brushes off crime i as 'not my issue', and why she thinks the heavy concentration of Section 8's couldn't possibly lead to abnormal amounts of crime.

    I mean......the comment of her staffer last month, "This isn't your college campus sweetie" pretty much says it all, no?

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  79. Joe L, in my opinion, Uptown is one of the very last places I'd ever describe as "helpless," learned or not. In fact, Ald. Shiller's blatant disregard for the community and its opinions have led us to self-reliance, if only as a means of survival.

    - Citizen Patrols in Clarendon Park.

    - Two separate citizen-financed lawsuits to block or change projects that have significant resident opposition.

    - Active and effective resident-founded organizations such as UNC, UCC, Wilson Area Merchants, and FORUM.

    - A community meeting of more than 400 residents that was held as a result of a group of citizens who were fed up with crime approaching the state senator and state rep.

    - Telephone and text trees to inform neighbors of significant events and as a quick way to mobilize them to call 911

    - Fundraisers for parks

    - Community gardens

    - 50+ people attending each CAPS beat meeting

    I'm sure there's more, but it's late and I'm tired. Let me just say that I've lived in big cities my entire life and this is the most proactive, caring community I've ever experienced.

    The irony is that if we had a responsive alderman, much of the closeness that we've developed just in trying to have our voices heard might not have happened.

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  80. With all of the violence that continues in our neighborhood, it's comforting to know that a gangbanger lives next door to me. That was sarcasm. He just left on his bike, red shirt, red hat. A few things trouble me and I am looking for advice:
    A. He lives in a building with a lot of young kids that seemingly have little parental involvement and/or supervision.
    B. I have spoken with his father in the past about his violent behavior directed towards my dogs (before I was aware of his affiliation). Now I am concerned about the safety of my family.
    C. I want to be pro-active in my community, but I have no idea what I can do. I call 911 when I see something that looks funny,nut it takes them forever to respond. A week ago, I spotted a group of kids wresting on Winthrop outside the Aragon. They were throwing punches and kicking eachother while they were down. I called the 911 and was told that another call was in about that situation and a unit was en route. I went to the store and passed the scene a half hour later. Not only was the wrestling still active, the crowd doubled in size. I called 911 again and waited. 10 minutes later we saw a squad.
    I don't sit on my hands, I joined a block club, I donate money to worthy causes, including the WY lawsuit. I keep my eyes and ears open and look out for the young kids on my block. What else can I do? Someone wrote that the cops won't work for their boss in our local precinct, that's bullsh*t! They work for the people and they are not doing their job if they refuse to respond to calls for help. I grew up in the roughest part of Lakeview, which had weekly gang fights. Now it's one of the richest neighborhoods in the city. I am starting to regret moving here. I don't see any action. I want to help, what else can I do? Wha can I do about: my neighbor?, neighborhood?, home?, you name it, I'm stuck, any suggestions?

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  81. Just trying to lighten the mood


    Neighborhood watch training video


    Your friendly neighborhood Millicent

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  82. The vic was a known and active gang member, as was the shooter the police are looking for and the other scumbags taken into custody. I am sure they all have extensive criminal and juvenile records. Hopefully they will charge and convict all three - four fewer scumbags on the street. They will most certainly sing like birds as soon as they are formally charged with murder and attempt murder. Thank god no innocent people were injured in this shooting.

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  83. Guitarjunkie, you may want to fill out a gang/drug form to note where he lives and the criminal activities in which he is engaging. Also, if he is a juvenile and you see him out after curfew, call 911 to report it. It may sound petty but the cops will nab him for a curfew violation (and may find something on him).

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  84. "What can I do about: my neighbor?, neighborhood?, home?, you name it, I'm stuck, any suggestions?"

    Getting involved at the local boys and girls club, or with Urban Initiatives, the Inspiration Corporation, or any of the many other non-profits in our neighborhood who service the youth and the homeless might be a good start. Maybe that way you can get in on a more centralized, controlled and more personal level, and really get to meet people who live here. There are a lot of problems that exist in Uptown, so many that it is impossible for our government to be able to handle it all. There are a good number of social services in this area working to address these problems, but they all need more volunteers. I also like to try to pick up the trash when I see it, and try to get other parents to do it with me when I am at the park with my son. If you want to see change in the neighborhood, we have to try to do some of it ourselves.

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  85. "There are a lot of problems that exist in Uptown, so many that it is impossible for our government to be able to handle it all."

    Now, while picking up the trash is always good Im not sure it is going to help with kids taking bullets in the head. Same with working these programs. Seems to be tons of people working at these programs in Uptown, yet that didn't stop the violence.

    My advice? Get involved to get Helen out of office in 2010. That is priotity #1! She has ruled Uptown long enough. She gave it a shot. While she may have started off strong she has now failed over and over again. Uptown had been on the Upswing due to people taking a chance and investing in the area. She has put hurdle upon hurdle in the way of progress.

    Maybe you right Stef, maybe it is impossible for our government to fix all our problems. I wouldn't ask it to. But as Heather Stean said at the meeting and the US constituion states it is governments job to PROTECT it's citizens. Right now our elected officials are failing in that regard.

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  86. I was riding my bike from the Lake back into the neighborhood when I saw the police activity/yellow tape and gathering of people in the area. I initially asked the police what happened when they responded, "nothing". I explained to the officer (a woman officer) that, since I live in this neighborhood, where violence has significantly increased in the past year, I felt that it was important for me to find out if this was another daytime shooting. I rode around the barriers, where several bystanders were discussing the situation, both gang members and regular neighborhood residents and/or professionals. The "gang members" seemed to very well know what took place, yet no officials were questioning them. Several neighborhood residents all had the same story to tell. The victim and his gang physically beat up members of another gang last week. The victim was shot by the gang member who was beat up in retaliation for last week's incident. Period. This seemed to be very well known among many different people.

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  87. When are all of the members of our community, wealthy, poor, black, white, hispanic, going to come together and agree that there is no room for sympathy once a "gang banger" chooses to flail a gun in teh air and put all of our lives at risk by doing so? I am a democrat, and believe in, and support programs for young children who do not have parental guidance, support and motivation, in order to keep the lure of the gangs away. I believe that as a country, a city, and a community, we have failed many of the poor, and predominately black children of Chicago. At the same time, however, we all have to say ENOUGH to the violence, especially those who live in the government assisted housing who are law abiding citizens, instead of making excuses TIME AFTER TIME for these gang members. As soon as these kids join these gangs, their choices no longer become their own, but ones that effect everyone around them. Yes, it's sad that they didn't have the guidance to stay out. But it's too late to worry about that when the risk of random gun violence is on the street. Would we allow a serial killer to run rampant just because he/she "didn't have a chance when they were little?" No-the risks are too high for society. We instead convict them. We also have an obligation to children to ensure that they have alternatives to joining a gang. Education that is equal to education in a neighboring area. Mentors to look up to. But these kids don't have a fighting chance when a gang member 5 years older is running the street because we, as a society, keep making excuses.

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  88. Guitarjunkie

    A phone tree helps speed police response. If their are multiple 911 calls it becomes more of a priority. Police are dispatched according to priority of incoming calls.

    The neighborhood needs people in your unfortunate position to KEEP stepping up.

    Odds are this chump will be in jail soon for something and out of your life for good.

    Most time if P.D. doesn't seem to be doing anything about open drug markets it is because they are building a case with surviellence.

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  89. Chip,

    That's 2011. See you at the polls...

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  90. Some may find this interesting - I created a word cloud of Uptown Update which you can find here.

    In case you're unsure of what's going on, this web app scans a blog, strips out common English words (the, in, etc.), then builds an image of what's left -- creating a word cloud. The larger the word in the cloud, the more prominent it is in the blog.

    What's interesting is that the word "Police" is almost as large the word "Uptown".

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  91. Stef mentioned that people are being racist by calling these people animals. I feel that is a total bunch of crap. If our society was still "racist" would the democratic nominee be black? I doubt it. What people are sick and tired of are the people who use their race as an excuse or blame "the man" for their situation. I personally feel the problem at the end of the day is these kids parents. It takes a community to raise a child...bull crap. These parents need to stop living mentally in a society that doesn't like minorities and teach their kids that the only way to succeed in this society is through hard work and determination. I dont want to hear any crap about their situations. At one point in my life, my family was on welfare. I now own a condo, am married, have a great job making over 6 figures a year, have a nice car and oh yeah...I'm debt free(minus the condo of course). I dont have a college eduacation because part of my parents struggle didn't afford for them to pay for my school, yet they made too much at that point for me to get any financial assistance.

    Helen thinks we "white yuppie condo owners" dont like poor people. Thats bull. I just think people like me are sick to my stomach because we see people who use their current situation as an excuse to act like thugs and animals. This is the USA, no one should be poor. Everyone has a chance. You just have to stop sticking your hand out asking for everything and get to work.

    Not thinking like that is why this neigborhood is messed up and the parents of these kids are part of the problem and not the solution.

    These parents need to wake up, and be parents. It starts there. No where else.

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  92. len, I think alot of us feel the same way.

    "success is not measured so much by our accomplishments in life but by what we had to overcome in the process. ..."

    Booker T. Washington
    ~not enough Booker T's in uptown/chicago or the US of A.

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  93. When are all of the members of our community, wealthy, poor, black, white, hispanic, going to come together and agree that there is no room for sympathy once a "gang banger" chooses to flail a gun in teh air and put all of our lives at risk by doing so?

    Note that this known gang member got a nice little memorial on the sidewalk where he died, so I don't think our community is ready to say enough is enough, or at least, a certain part of our community isn't.

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  94. The "gang members" seemed to very well know what took place, yet no officials were questioning them.

    I'm pretty sure the gang members would claim ignorance to the facts if they were questioned by the cops.

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  95. He got a memorial on Lakeside that isn't where he died.

    Is their 2 memorials for this thug?

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  96. Will the Repass gathering be held at the Clarendon Park Field House?

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