A reader writes in with her account of last night's shooting:"Just wanted to give you the scoop on something that happened tonight at our home on the 4400 block of N Magnolia. At 10:41 pm (last night) my husband and I heard 5 to 7 rapid automatic gunshots DIRECTLY outside our window. It sounded like the shooting was in our living room, and it also sounded like one of the shots hit the building. After diving for cover (seriously, who has to do that?) and calling 911 while waiting in the dark for a few minutes, we went upstairs to speak with the other neighbors who had also heard the shots. While opening a window to speak to a neighbor, my husband stepped on a shard of glass....that we discovered was from the BULLET HOLE in our front window. At this point we called the police again to report the damage. At 11:05 a police officer FINALLY arrived at our residence (a full 20 minutes after gunshots happened directly outside our window). The officer was very kind and helpful, but that it took 20 minutes for anybody to show up seems absurd. When I finally found the bullet, the officer took it but said we likely wouldn't hear anything again since it was just a damaged property claim. Swell.
Our neighbor happened to be walking by broncho billy park at the time of the shooting and saw a white two-door mid-sized car with no hubcaps (similar to an 88 buick regal) with 3 black males who were laughing... then zoomed away, flying over speed bumps and running the red light on Montrose.
Hope this is helpful....we had just been upstairs a matter of minutes ago and could easily have been hit. There is nothing more real than a bullet in your home to make you question the decision to live here.
Ironically, today marks the day we moved here 1 year ago. Happy anniversary...."
Update: "This morning I walked out to better scope out the situation. I noticed a car across the street with a shattered back windshield. I walked over, and the trajectory matches up with that of the shot in my window. Instead of coming from a car driving by (as I previously thought) the shots came from 4446 North Magnolia. We've had trouble with this building for an entire year, and the building manager is wholly unhelpful. I called 911, and out they came. It appears that they recovered multiple shell casings from the front yard of 4446 N Magnolia. I suppose for residents there, shooting at a car driving by has no possible way of affecting anybody else, especially not the neighbors across the street. Idiots."
Wow, let the summertime gang wars begin!! This is just so sad. I am sorry to hear about the damage and the scare..no one should have to live like this. Its horrible. I could hear those gun shots loud and clear from my window on Montrose and Clarendon. That definately was not a small calibur weapon.
ReplyDeleteI also thought I heard guns shots about that time...guess I was right! I am not a cop but I would think that they have a better chance of finding the actual shooter out side on the streets and not in your house. That may be why it took so long for the cops to show up. I heard sirens within minutes from when I heard the shots so I am sure they were on the the call.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that no one got hurt and I hope that the person who found the bullet in their home does not take this the wrong way, as I would feel the same way if it happened to me.
I heard it too and I am on the 25th floor and all the gunshots sounded like high power weapons and I looked out but saw nothing but saw a rush of CPD heading toward Sheridan & Montrose area. Too bad the new 23 district police station was not planned to be built on the Shiller projects in Wilson yard. It would ahve served our area much better then whats going up there now.....
ReplyDeleteThe vast majority of residents on this stretch of Magnolia - whether they live in condos, market rate apartments, or subsidized apartments - are law abiding citizens. There are probably at most three or four bad apartments that are the driving force behind the trouble on this street.
ReplyDelete*Too bad the new 23 district police station was not planned to be built on the Shiller projects in Wilson yard.*
ReplyDeleteCome on, we don't need a police station, we have donut shops...
haha.....
Who's the building manager? This is scary and serious.
ReplyDeleteI heard them too (4500 block of Magnolia)...it was 7 shots, and I thought it was fireworks because they were so close together (definitely an automatic weapon). I never heard any sirens or anything that indicated a police response.
ReplyDeleteAnd all Shiller (via proxy) had to contribute to the town hall meeting was a passing mention of one bad building manager being removed.
ReplyDeleteHeckuva job, Helen.
Thank you so much for your proactive approach to addressing the ever increasing violence in your ward.
Can't wait to get the comparative statistics between this year and last (warm weather stats, not the crap that was shoveled at last week's meeting).
There were about 15 gang members, the usual cast of characters, hanging out in Sunnyside mall when this happened. Nobody scattered, and there were several looking down the street at the car which sped off. A majority of them walked off down Sunnyside towards the houses on Racine. Had this happened earlier in the day when more people were awake, the place would have been swarming with cops. I'm glad nobody got hurt!
ReplyDeleteI heard them too from the 4500 block of Malden. I went outside on my porch to see if I could view anything from my perch. I did not see any panic in the alley between Magnolia and Malden. People were walking through the alley with ease and calm. I looked around for police lights but did not see anything. I didn't hear any sirens either.
ReplyDeleteI thought it was fire crackers and not gunshots since nobody appeared alarmed in the alley. This was obviously wrong.
The police response is pathetic. Whomever's house was hit with the bullet needs to raise holy hell at the next CAPS meeting. This is serious. A bullet in your living room is not merely "property damage".
I would suggest filling out the Gang and Drug House Reporting form for 4446 N. Magnolia. I hope it helps. Unfortunately, that corner/building has been trouble for years.
ReplyDeleteThis pretty sad/pathetic/scary. Like I've stated before, it seems the gangs are running around and acting with impunity. As if they're not afraid of any repercussions. I don't know if it's because they're too stupid to worry about the repercussions or know they and don't care (don't know which is worse). But either way, it's going to be a very messed up summer. And hitting the gangs where they live, literally, is a big part of the answer. If they have no base of operations (the apartment of one of the members to conduct their actions or run to when they need a safehouse), then they tend to go away. Gotta hit those landlords with everything you've got: photos of non-residents going and out without a care, lousing living conditions (you'd be doing the law-abiding residents there a favor), etc. Make them either clean it up or shut it down.
ReplyDeleteAfter diving for cover (seriously, who has to do that?)Sad to say, a lot of people do in various neighborhoods in the city. I remember covering a story on the West Side when I was a reporter and seeing kids in this one apartment hit the ground immediately when there were gunshots outside (in the afternoon). I was still standing up there like an idiot. NOt saying it's right or that you should put up with it, just saying a lot of people have to do it... for now.
Everyone in the beat and out need to show up at CAPS. CAn someone share the date of the next meeting and where?
ReplyDeleteIf the building manager isn't helpful you should start by filing "Drug and Gang House Ordinance" on the property. By itself, it is not likely to do a whole lot, but it is good to start the paper trail ASAP! Otherwise, when you get the city's attention there might not be enough on file to keep their attention.
ReplyDeleteBeat 2311 - 1st Tuesday of every month - Truman College Cafeteria.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Uptown. This is sad because this area of the city has SO much potential that is not exploited due to the fact this is the ghetto of the north side. I have only liver here for 3 years and have heard more gunshots here than when I was still on active duty. The police response in Chicago overall is EXTREMELY poor. They can't get to the scene of a shooting very quickly, but they sure as hell can write a parking ticket in no time flat.
ReplyDeleteI walked by about 30 minutes ago, there is definitely a king size bullet hole in the window. What kinds bullet was it? The hole is literally the size of a quarter. I suggest everyone in that area fill put the gang for for the building there at sunnyside and magnolia. I walk by constantly and there are always ransoms coming in and out. What is the address on that building so the law abiding citizens can fill one out and call the building manager.
ReplyDeleteBrennan obviously you do not have the facts. A .22 cal shell casing was recovered form the scene, obviously a .22 semi-auto NOT HEAVY AUTO FIREPOWER. Also the police dont necessarily utilize their sirens because they want any advantage they can get in order to find the offenders. Also 10:30 pm is right before shift change and also the District Gang Teams no longer work in the 23rd Doistrict they are working in Area 1 (far south side). And lastly a gun shot hole in a window is classified as a Criminal Damage to Porperty unless their was an intended target on the inside of the window. FYI Wilbur jackson just got released from the joint and has been seen in the Mall at Magnolia and Sunnyside.
ReplyDeleteThe CPD should just plant a cop car out in front of that place in the evening. If for nothing else than to get acquainted with the people coming and going from there.
ReplyDeleteWho is Wilbur Jackson?
ReplyDeleteYes, who is wilbur Jackson? Sounds like someone to avoid. Any pictures/descriptions?
ReplyDeleteWhen we moved to Uptown in 2001, bullets flew through the front window of a building in the 4400 Magnolia block. Shiller actually came out the owner's unit at the owner's insistance, but no action was taken to improve neighbhorhood safety. The shots were fired from the Broncho Billy playlot.
ReplyDeleteThe 4400-4500 blocks of Magnolia are vrey dark and the most dangerous street in this area.
Suggestions for improving community safety...
1. Magnolia is very dark. Let's start by getting the trees trimmed now. Make the request by calling the Alderman's office at 878-4646 and Don Nowotny's office
at 312-744-5030
2. Join GWNA block club, www.gwna.org and make Magnolia a top action item.
3. Initiate a full blown campaign to get the brighter, pedestrian-friendly lighting installed on every street, starting with Magnolia.
4. Develop a plan for the Sunnyside Mall to encourage people to use the mall. For example, the kids want to create a garden on the corner of Sunnyside & Magnolia.
Volunteer and do it through the block club. The more people using the mall for positive, community enhancing activities, the less the gangs will congregate there. Whovever is out on the streets, owns the streets.
5. Who manages the 4446 Magnolia building? Write letters to the property manager and CC that person's boss. Keep a file and keep the pressure on until the problem tenants are removed.
Can we just build a dog park at the Sunnyside & Magnolia corner? maybe that would encourage positive loitering there.
ReplyDeleteday in and day out the cops fly up sheridan/broadway to the usual destinations. why are there not cops just stationed in the area, 'on call,' working the beat? or are they? and if thats the case whats with the slow response time?
ReplyDeleteCome to the next CAPS meeting and discuss your concerns with the police. Posting suggestions on a blog is great, but it's not going to make one bit of policy change.
ReplyDelete*The 4400-4500 blocks of Magnolia are vrey dark and the most dangerous street in this area.*
ReplyDeleteI lived there for five years and never really had a problem. Once a guy throw a rock through a window at 4428 North Magnolia, but that was about it.
Oh, we also found a toy gun that looked real.
Anyone can file a report regarding a problem building on http://www.actionuptown.com/
ReplyDeleteThis was mentioned at the last Town Hall Public Safety Meeting.
"Quietlyconscious" I guess you are a resident on Magnolia and I feel sorry for you if you are but all you law abiding citizens you say that live there should direct their energy to see what they can do to change the 3 or 4 bad buildings instead of being Quietlyconscious and maybe become non abiding citizens as there is strength in numbers and let those 3 or 4 apartments know you residents will not allow this to go on anymore on thier block and make it safe and healthy for everyone...
ReplyDeleteAll:
ReplyDeleteI am the person who has a bullet hole in the window:
To respond to some posts:
We are active, we do attend CAPS, we always publicly loiter -- both in Sunnyside Mall and elsewhere -- we are very visible around the neighborhood. This must be stopped... we have consistently called 911 on drug use, loitering, suspicious activity, etc., but I cannot tell you how unsettling it is to have a bullet land in your dining room.
We have already spoken with the management of 4446. Apparently, a new management company just took over the building (and others in the area) three weeks ago, and is looking to make positive change.
I have placed a call to the Alderman's office. We have spoken to the police detectives. We are ready, willing, and able to do what it takes to put an end to this. I hope you all are too.
For some context, if the bullet was shot two feet lower, it likely would have lodged in my, or worse yet, my wife's body as we sat on the couch watching American Idol. Don't think it couldn't happen to you, as that was my thinking up until 10:40pm last night.
I encourage all of you to call the Alderman's office, call the police, and get out and take a walk this evening. We will be out walking this evening, and it would be nice if the neighborhood joined us.
I heard the shots last night, but given how close together the shots were and that I didn't see a lot of people scattering on the streets, I also thought it was fireworks. Our building was hit with graffiti yesterday too, so it looks like summer is going to be fun times around here.
ReplyDelete4446 N Magnolia may be managed by the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation. I've noticed they are now managing a number of properties on Malden and Magnolia. I think the old management was The Habitat Company.
ReplyDeleteMichaela mentioned at the safety meeting that there was new operators of subsidized housing properties in Uptown. I don't think she mentioned who the new operators were, but it appears they are WCDC.
Enforcer-
ReplyDeleteSince you seem to be the one with the facts...
How do you know they were .22 caliber rounds?
The property in question is managed by the Woodland group. They now manage a large number of scattered site housing units on the north side.
ReplyDeleteThe former management company was named Housing Resource Center (HRC), a name that the aldermen's rep couldn't remember at the last safety meeting.
Sick&Tired - That really sucks and I am sorry to hear about that incident. It is such BS. I wish we could find those punks.
ReplyDeleteUU:
Also, I see Billyjoel was back! At leaset for a second. I wish we could read his posts, but I know he is probably banned....
barryfishing wrote: ""Quietlyconscious" I guess you are a resident on Magnolia and I feel sorry for you if you are but all you law abiding citizens you say that live there should direct their energy to see what they can do to change the 3 or 4 bad buildings instead of being Quietlyconscious and maybe become non abiding citizens as there is strength in numbers and let those 3 or 4 apartments know you residents will not allow this to go on anymore on thier block and make it safe and healthy for everyone..."
ReplyDeleteI am an evil condo owner who lives on a different street nearby, and am very active in the community. And I didn't mean three or four buildings, but rather three or four UNITS. It really doesn't take much for a few bad apples to have an incredibly outsized effect on a block. That was the point I was trying to make and wasn't trying to defend the status quo in any way.
The majority of good people on this stretch of Magnolia need to put in an organized and sustained effort to deal with the small group of problem apartments that enable the gangbangers. You get the people kicked out of those apartments and replace them with people who respect the law and take care of their children, and you'll see a big change in the block right away.
To sick& I know a way to fix thoses punks its with good old school days and its called "cracking skulls" but that cannot be done today. I would suggest as I did numerous times before and no-one has taken me up. Contact www.guardianangles.org. They have a chapter here in Chicago and you will be given a number for you to talk to a live person and see if they will not send a group of their crime fighters around for a week or two. They have done wonders to clean out the gangs and punks in numerous areas in and out of the city.......look at their site and see for yourself.....
ReplyDeleteHey NEWKIDONTHEBLOCK:
ReplyDeleteI know its a .22 cal because I recovered the shell casing on the sidewalk.
FYI; Wilbur Jackson is a dope dealer and enforcer for the Black P Stones. He outta da joint and reestablishing himself on the mall. He is a shot caller and may be trying to take a more prominent role amongst the BPS nation.
Calling the Alderman is a good idea, but given her track record in terms of responsiveness, it might also be a good idea to cc Greg Harris and Heather Steans. I've actually gotten replies from them when I've contacted them via email. Schakowsky has been a black hole, but why not let her know we exist and cc her too?
ReplyDeleteRep Greg Harris:
Greg (at) GregHarris.org
Senator Heather Steans:
info (at) heathersteans.com
To the original poster, I'm really sorry to hear that this happened. Your story is compelling, and I can only hope that Harris, Steans, or someone else with more influence than the individual citizen is moved to take the safety situation in Uptown a bit more seriously as a result of it.
I just can't belive this.
ReplyDeleteA little rant here...
I am not a democrat or a republican, I would never want to be part of a group that would have me as a member (haha) and I pretty much can't stand either party. Obama is the only sane one I think.
BUT ANYWAY, after that disclaimer:
Republicans are spreading fear that holding terrorists in a maximum security prison endamgers America.
But it is okay to let THESE GUYS roam the streets?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_P._Stones
AND READ THIS!!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.soulcast.com/post/show/51013/The-Black-P.-Stone-Nation-(BPSN)
Did anyone hear additional shots closer to Agatite/Sunnyside and Sheridan around 11:30? Maybe it was the same shooter/gun.
ReplyDeleteI woke up to five or six very loud pops around 11:20 or 11:30. I thought that it was fireworks, but the stacatto was more like gunfire.
I could hear the bangs echo between the buildings.
In response to the great Chicago Police in Uptown, I got pulled over for not coming to a complete stop at a stop sign AND for a slight tint in the driver side window. The cops in this area would rather focus on minor traffic violations then the crack dealers that are all over the neighborhood! Your best bet is to stay in your house, lock the doors and shut the windows. The police don't want to take on the real issues plaguing Uptown.
ReplyDeleteI heard the second set of shots and called 911. I was one of many. Two different police cars (one with uniformed cops, one with detectives) came to my home at midnight to take statements.
ReplyDeleteThis is MY neighborhood. I'm not going to hide behind locked doors and shake in fear. I'm interested in reclaiming it from the gangs. If someone has to go, it's them, not me.
This is scary, I will be writing Greg Harris and Heather Steans. If you haven't done so, hit up Mr. Harris on Facebook. Greg always post relevant stuff regarding State Issues. The problem now seems to be Springfield is so screwed up it is taking away time from local Issues.
ReplyDeleteI will say this, once and once only...JASON your comedy is not funny. If it is a joke people will laugh. If you have to explain it like you seem to feel the need to do with "Just Kidding", "Ha Ha", "Smiley Face" ect. then chances are it is not funny. We all appreciate you trying out your material on us but A JOKE IS A JOKE no explanation needed. It is funny or it is not funny. Period.
Sorry that has been driving me nuts for a long time. I feel like I am on the gong show without a gong. Carry on..I guess I just miss Pirate.
I really hope that Joe is right and the management company is Woodland Group, Inc and not the Woodlawn Community Development Corporation. The WCDC is represented by the same group of lawyers that represent the Uptown Preservation Apartments.
ReplyDeleteJason, if you notice in your Wiki link, the Black P stones were started in the Woodlawn neighborhood. The P Stones seed money came from the Federal government through various Great Society grants.
[The cops in this area would rather focus on minor traffic violations then the crack dealers that are all over the neighborhood!]
ReplyDeleteWhat orders are they receiving?
Increase revenue through enforcement of laws?
You can pay. Targeting gang activity is a cost to the government on all sides of the equation.
I'm still troubled by the fact that you can find two officer beat patrols on foot in Wrigleyville after dark when the Cubs are out of town and you never find them in Uptown.
FYI: Here is a great, and timely(Chi Town Daily News with the scoop again), about the recent changes in scattered site housing management as of late.
ReplyDeletehttp://is.gd/C8I9
[Both Burrell and Maat say tenants should have been included in the decision to choose a new property management company.
"They haven't even informed us that they're making a management change, much less asked for our input," says Maat.
Burrell says usually CHA works with the local council at a development to determine such changes, but they haven't in this case."I would have really appreciated if they held a meeting or hearing or something, but it didn't happen," says Burrell. "I think they should have come and asked our opinion."]
The deciders. *gulp*
www.guardianangles.org is NOT a working web page
ReplyDeleteChicago, IL - United States
ReplyDeleteChapter Leader: Miguel Fuentes
Mobile Phone: 312.217.7245
Email Address: Chicago@GuardianAngels.org
http://www.guardianangels.org/index.php
ReplyDeletethis is the full web addy
@ chicagocitizen..i heard the shots to at 11:20 they sounded like they were right on my street windsor by claredon. not for certain since I have no way of seeing outside my window to the street and I was not about to go out side. I too thought it might be fireworks but they were clearly being shot from the ends of the street at each other.
ReplyDeleteI don't believe this happened. Mayor Daley rid of us of this type of crime when he outlawed handguns. If there aren't any handguns, then how were the shots fired? Were the gang members walking around with rifles?
ReplyDeleteThat is why I love living in Illinois. Along with Wisconsin, we are the only 2 states in the union that have no form of open or concealed carry.
[Along with Wisconsin, we are the only 2 states in the union that have no form of open or concealed carry.]
ReplyDeleteUnless you're the Mayor or an Alderman. They're permitted to conceal and carry.
Brennan----I misspoke. The management of 4446 N Magnolia is indeed the company you referenced, the
ReplyDeleteWoodlawn Community Development Corporation.
The point I was trying to make was that they manage most if not all of the north side scattered site housing.
Housing Resource Center had a lot of problems and a lot of obstacles thrown in their way by Alderman Shiller. Towards the end of their tenure they started to make some progress with some problem tenants, but it was too iittle, too late.
Let's hope the folks from Woodlawn can do a better job.
To those mentioning the noises a little later closer to Windsor and Hazel...they were definitely fireworks.
ReplyDeleteI heard them and jumped up and was eased to see the pretty sparks in the sky! I am on Sunnyside and was able to catch them to allay my fears!
Too bad the same cannot be said for the incident further west last night.
[Housing Resource Center had a lot of problems and a lot of obstacles thrown in their way by Alderman Shiller.]
ReplyDeleteWhat obstacles? In the Chi-Town Daily News article the resident of the scattered site housing blames the CHA. Housing Resource Center blames their cuts in funding which they say limits their staff size to meet the needs of residents.
I'd like to know more about this considering property taxes are presently stuck in the vacuum that is the Wilson Yard TIF which limits any access to capital the Mayor and the City Council can direct to the CHA to supply funds to scattered site contract property managers.
Of course, the vacuum can be switched from suck to blow if you are an attorney at Davis, Miner and Barnhill with connections to the Alderman and the Mayor to get about a cool million from the Wilson Yard TIF for rehabilitation of existing units at Uptown Preservation Apartments for around $22,000 per unit.
> Hey, I live uptown.
ReplyDelete> I don't know if anyone has brought this to your attention, but it
> seems like this site is a good place for anti-gang info. There's a
> red bandana tied to the traffic pole at Sheridan and Argyle.
$22,000 per unit.Considerably < $300,000
ReplyDeleteEnforcer (or anyone else), can you please provide a detailed description of Wilbur Jackson? I want to be able to call 911 and report him EVERY SINGLE TIME I SEE HIM. I will absolutely do it.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
I tried to Google 'Wilbur Jackson chicago crime" and came up empty. So who knows who this gentleman is.
ReplyDeleteThe problem is, I could call 911 on an hourly basis, when I walk by, what I call the Devil's Rectangle
(Sunnyside & Malden......Sunnyside & Magnolia.....Malden & Leland.....Magnolia & Leland)
A definite roadmap of trouble.
Don't forget the Federal government. Write and call. Setting aside funding for more police creates jobs and reduces crime. Granted we're driving this country deeper into debt, we might as well put it to good use. Kind of like throwing Madoff and other swindlers on a chain gang repairing our roads.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nash. I've been meaning to point out to barry that I didn't think "angles" would make the best guardians for a while.
ReplyDeleteGo to this website and do an inmate search for the last name Jackson, there was only one Wilbur so I assume that this is the guy. Perhaps Enforcer could fill us in if he still is styling the nice braids.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/search/inms.asp
Wilbur Jackson, middle of the top row.
ReplyDeletehttp://bp3.blogger.com/_87NnYBM8OQQ/Rvxq3HhpkmI/AAAAAAAAA88/2-P7yw35lyQ/s1600-h/Capture2.JPG
Wilbur Jackson from ze department of corrections website. Only Wilbur Jackson in the "system". I believe Parole Area One includes our area and that is where the site said he was released to.
ReplyDeleteDepartment of Corrections Inmate Search.Photo 1Photo 2Wilbur is not a very attractive man in so many different ways.
I myself am a sexy beast. Life just ain't fair.
Wilbur please don't be carrying a weapon. Because if you are that would violate the terms of your parole. I'd hate for someone to catch you in violation and send you back downstate. That would break my wittle heart.
I'm sure many of our district cops will be keeping an eye on Wilbur the Talking Gang Member and perhaps they will get lucky......which would be unlucky for him. Oh, Willlllllllllllburr!
There are 3 links in that "mess" I just posted.
ReplyDelete1. The IDOC website to find inmates.
2. Pic of Wilbur
3. Second pic of Wilbur
Thanks, Irish Pirate, for posting links to his picture. Call 911 if you see him on CHA property.
ReplyDeleteGang loitering should also be reported, especially around the Sunnyside mall. Make sure you tell the dispatcher that it's a gang and drug hotspot.
Thanks 'Enforcer' for clarifying the details. The speculation gets out of hand here at times. I heard it was a mid evil cannon myself.
ReplyDeleteA few things:
ReplyDeleteWilbur is out today. He is wearing a reddish coat with fur around the collar. He is an ugly dude, so please watch every move he makes and call 911 with anything and everything.
Second, regarding the shooting. There were five to seven shots. The majority of them were recovered (at least 2 or 3 in cars) and one in the condo across the street. They all show a clear trajectory coming from 4446 N Magnolia. Shell casings were found in the lawn of 4446. Bullets were found that could be used to match a gun, fingerprints on the shell casings could be used to match the gun. More than likely, the gun is inside 4446, which was used to shoot at a car (and at the innocent bystanders).
My point is WHY have they not gone into the house? Enforcer -- You have probable cause, get a warrant, and go retrieve the gun. Take prints, and match it to the owner. I do not feel safe knowing that gun still sits in that house, while I sit across the street.
Photos often help too. Most phones have a camera now. Be discreet (pretend you're dialing or making a call to avoid trouble) but even a fuzzy cell phone photo helps identify suspects when you sense something is about to go down or is already happening. Photos of cars, license plates, anything that can help. I've taken photos of suspicious guys on el platforms late at night (you can usually tell when they're scoping out the situation and up to no good), guys hanging out in front of liquor stores who aren't your usual panhandlers and sometimes follow people suddenly late at night. Anyway, document this stuff with photos. Those, along with your calls and filed reports might go a long way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info on Wilbur. Is he generally on Sunnyside Mall? If not, where does he usually frequent?
ReplyDeleteI plan to blast an e-mail to many friends and neighbors so they can report him.
Y'all know I'm really against the crime and gangs in Uptown, but I'm wondering just what exactly we're keeping an eye on Wilbur Jackson for? A parolee is allowed to be on Sunnyside Mall, right? What is it that he's NOT allowed to do? Go on CHA Property? Hang with other convicted felons?
ReplyDeleteI'm all for being a vigilant community, but I don't want to see a witch hunt against a parolee simply because he's a parolee. Clarification, please, on what would constitute a violation of his sentence and warrant a call to 911?
Irish Pirate that be the one and only Wilbur Jackson, he is a shooter for the BPS's and he runs the area of Magnolia/Wilson/Broadway.
ReplyDeleteTo Sick@Amp Tired.... There is no probable cause to ascertain a Search Warrant for the row houses there unless you have an affiant who will be brought before a judge an swear to the events that establish probable cause. This is not TV, now if the police were in hot pursuit they could enter the premises but they would have had to witnessed the shooting and or the shooter w/ the firearm.
Regarding Mr. Jackson:
ReplyDeleteIf you are so concerned about the rights of a convicted felon, why don't you just keep your eyes open for him to engage in the following: drug dealing, drug using, murder, attempt murder, sexual assault, battery, gambling, solicitation, discharge of firearms, armed robbery, burglary, mob action, littering, jay walking, etc.
This way you don't have to feel bad about the offending the sensitvities of such a fragile young man trying to change his life around.
The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior.
Oh, come on, ChicagoCitizen, who are you, Mad Max? There's a lot a convicted felon can do without the people of Uptown coming after him with torches and pitchforks. If he's out on parole, he DOES have rights. Little thing called the Constitution, ya know?
ReplyDeleteWhat I'd like to clarify is what we should watch out for, what he can't be doing. Someone mentioned earlier that they thought he can't be seen in CHA housing... is this right? If he's on the Sunnyside Mall, is that alone a breach of his parole, or only if he's hanging out with gang members? If he's hanging out with other felons?
If I'm gonna be on the lookout for someone and call him in to 911 for wrongdoing, I'd like to know what I'm looking for. Can you imagine the laughter... "there's a parolee on the street! Arrest him!" Just looking for some details.
TSN is completely right. Calling whenever there is just a sighting could have negative effects. Ever heard of the boy who called wolf? How do we learn of the conditions of his parole? It should be a matter of public record...
ReplyDeleteLol TSN...if stray bullets and shell casings in the front yard of a persistantly "challenging" building aren't enough for a search warrant (methinks this sounds fishy, no offense to Enforcer), then there is no way they'd arrest him for that call! Seriously though, I as well am very interested in the specifics of his parole terms so as to make the most effective observations/911 calls.
ReplyDeleteI just read ChicagoCitizen's post and he, indeed, listed several offenses. Last summer we had some other parolees who came back to our area. Unfortunately, they were witnessed engaging in some of their old behavior (drug dealing and firearm possession), which resulted in 911 calls.
ReplyDeleteNo need to trample on the rights of others, but let's no be naive folks. Some people do bad things. We need to keep our eyes open. The "don't snitch" motto is spewn by gangbangers, not law abiding citizens.
Steven said...
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Uptown. This is sad because this area of the city has SO much potential that is not exploited due to the fact this is the ghetto of the north side. I have only liver here for 3 years and have heard more gunshots here than when I was still on active duty. The police response in Chicago overall is EXTREMELY poor. They can't get to the scene of a shooting very quickly, but they sure as hell can write a parking ticket in no time flat.
May 21, 2009 10:30 AM
Steven,
Truth be told Steven, Uptown has one of the fastest police responses in the entire city. As one of the officers who responded to the "shots fired" call that evening I will tell you that several officers were on scene within 30 seconds of the call being dispached. Other areas do not have this kind of service. When we get the call we get there usually within 2 minutes of getting the call. On one other note, maybe the residents of the block should request a blue light camera on the corner of sunnyside/magnolia. We already know what goes on there and who is responsible, but there is a very limited area for police observation and there is no way to get in fast due to the speedbumps & mall area. Lastly, the "voice of the people" properties and scattered site housing on Magnolia, Malden, Racine and Sunnyside contribute greatly to the drama you experience. I will continue to give your area the best police service that I can, but the residents need to be more helpful as well. Residents need to leave their names when they call so we can follow up and get more details and the residents of the area need to be more proactive in electing politicians who care about the tax payers more then the votes they recieve from the area drug dealers.
Hi Trying to Help,
ReplyDeleteI'm truly am not bashing the police here, I find that as a whole you all are very helpful to us. That said, I'm the one who placed the initial 911 call and, unless you were 110% undercover, there was NOBODY on the scene 30 seconds later...or 3 minutes later....or 10 minutes later....I know because I was picking the glass out of my foot while frantically looking out the front window for the police. In fact, the officer who did arrive admitted that he wasn't even an uptown cop, he just happened to be getting gas on Irving Park and got sent up to help. I can understand if nobody was on scene because they were chasing a perp or where on another call, but to say you were there doesn't compute.
Looking back, it's frustrating that nobody surveyed a little harder around the scene that night. It seems that a cop looking around the street with a flashlight would have seen that other car with the windows shot out and then (in a timely manner) could more likely have found the shooter/questioned people who knew what was going on. We were just standing around in the front yard with our neighbors while the gun was right across the street--that's scary. By morning (when I was the one who finally found the car) there was not a good chance of the perp still being there nor any (legal) reason at all for searching the building. Yes, we thought it was someone shooting from a car, but we aren't cops and it would have been nice to see a little more thorough searching that night.
Re: residents doing a better job calling 911
I completely agree with you, it's very important. On several occasions I've offered my name only to have the operator say it wasn't necessary and hang up on me. While I don't think this is the norm, I do know that it happens and also can be discouraging to callers. They almost never ask for my information-I would be interested to know what the procedure/rules are for this. I know that if you played back my tape from the night of the shooting the caller did not ask and I was so scared I didn't even think to offer it like I normally do. Perhaps if they asked as a rule, more people would share? Just a thought.
Also, about elected officials. It seems to be a very sore spot on this blog, and I don't think it's fair to say that many who post here were any less than "helpful" with regard to elected officials. Last time my husband and I didn't get to vote...we hadn't moved here yet....but I believe that many if not most posters here fought hard to win the last election. If you've read much on UU then you know about some potential reasons why things didn't go so well.
just my .02
Again, thank you for all you do to help us live in a safer place.
Steven said...
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Uptown. This is sad because this area of the city has SO much potential that is not exploited due to the fact this is the ghetto of the north side.
'Ghetto of the north side' pretty much sums up what I have thought since I moved here a decade ago.
The police in the 23rd Rock though!! I have a scanner and they are on sight within a minute of getting the call from dispatch. Keep in mind after you call 911 the dispatcher has to get the call out.