A 13-year-old girl is in critical condition following a violent drive-by shooting on Chicago’s South Side Friday night.
Chicago police responded to the scene at approximately 9:44 p.m. near the intersection of 38th Street and South Cottage Grove Avenue.
The young victim was standing outside on the sidewalk when the violence erupted.
Witnesses told investigators that a vehicle drove past the location at a high rate of speed.
An unidentified person inside the car opened fire directly toward the girl.
The teenager was struck multiple times by the gunfire as she attempted to seek cover.
Emergency responders rushed the girl to Comer Children’s Hospital in extremely serious condition.
As of Saturday morning, hospital staff confirmed the 13-year-old remains in critical condition.
Officers cordoned off the Bronzeville intersection for several hours to collect shell casings and search for surveillance footage.
No suspects have been identified, and Chicago police say no one is currently in custody.
Violence in Bronzeville
This shooting occurred in the heart of the Bronzeville neighborhood, an area that has seen a concerning uptick in evening violence.
The intersection of 38th and Cottage Grove sits near several residential complexes and local businesses.
In recent months, residents have called for increased patrols due to similar incidents involving vehicles firing into crowds.
Just last summer, a nearby block experienced a similar drive-by incident that left multiple people injured.
Community leaders often point to this specific corridor as a “hot spot” for retaliatory violence between local groups.
The proximity to Lake Shore Drive makes the area a quick escape route for shooters using stolen vehicles.
Police are currently reviewing city-run POD cameras located at the 38th Street intersection to track the vehicle’s path.
Youth Caught in the Crossfire
Chicago continues to struggle with a rise in “innocent bystander” shootings involving minors on the South Side.
Last month, a 14-year-old boy was wounded just blocks away from Friday’s shooting site.
City data shows that teenage victims of gun violence often encounter gunfire while performing everyday activities like standing outside their homes.
Bronzeville activists have held several “peace marches” this year to demand more resources for at-risk youth in the 2nd and 21st Districts.
The hospital where the girl is recovering, Comer Children’s, frequently treats young victims of the city’s ongoing gun crisis.
Detectives are asking anyone with information or private security footage to contact Area One investigators immediately.
