A violent drive-by shooting shattered a late-night gathering on Chicago’s Far South Side early Saturday morning.
The attack happened just before 1:15 a.m. in the East Side neighborhood.
A crowd had gathered in a parking lot near East 102nd Street and South Avenue J.
Witnesses told police that a blue vehicle suddenly drove past the group.
Someone inside the car opened fire on the people standing in the lot.
Bullets struck two women as the crowd scrambled for cover.
A 29-year-old woman was hit in the chest during the barrage of gunfire.
The Chicago Fire Department rushed her to the University of Chicago Medical Center.
She was in critical condition and later died from her injuries.
A 37-year-old woman was also struck in the leg during the shooting.
Paramedics took her to the same hospital where she is listed in good condition.
The blue vehicle sped away from the scene immediately after the shots were fired.
No suspects are currently in custody as of Saturday morning.
Area Two detectives are leading the investigation into the deadly attack.
A Pattern of Violence on the Far South Side
The East Side neighborhood has seen a troubling rise in late-night outdoor violence recently.
This specific stretch of South Avenue J is often used for informal social gatherings.
Just last year, residents voiced concerns about large crowds and noise in nearby commercial lots.
Community leaders have previously asked for increased patrols around 102nd Street during weekend overnight hours.
This incident marks the third shooting within a five-block radius in the last six months.
Nearby residents reported hearing at least half a dozen shots before sirens filled the air.
Police are looking for any surveillance footage from local businesses that may have captured the blue vehicle.
The identity of the deceased woman has not yet been released by the Medical Examiner.
