5 people shot overnight during gathering at South Side park, neighbors describe chaotic scene

CHICAGO — Five people were shot overnight during a gathering at Ellis Park in the Oakland neighborhood on the city’s South Side, at least the third incident so far in which multiple people were shot during what’s been a violent Labor Day weekend around Chicago.

Neighbors and residents described to WGN-TV a chaotic scene in Ellis Park, saying the party started Sunday night and the crowd continued to grow.

“I saw a whole lot of people downstairs in front of my building, on the side, and then I saw the police had blocked off the street,” one woman said.

“It was chaotic. The cars couldn’t go through, because they were all in the streets and just walking around. It was a lot of people out here.”

According to police, officers had already arrived to the area on a disturbance call around 1 a.m. Monday when they heard gunshots nearby. They relocated to where the gunshots were and discovered multiple victims with gunshot wounds in the 3600 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue.

The shooting happened just steps from the University of Chicago Charter School. Social media posts indicated that a gathering, advertised as a reunion party, was taking place in Ellis Park. Residents said it appeared most of those attending the party were not from the neighborhood

According to police, Chicago Fire Department personnel arrived on scene to treat the shooting victims and take them to area hospitals. Police say one of the victims was a 17-year-old boy, who was listed in critical condition with multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

The other four victims ranged in age from 26 to 36, three men and one woman. According to police, three were listed in good condition and one was listed in fair condition.

Police say four firearms were recovered at the scene, and area detectives were questioning a person of interest as they continue to investigate the incident. So far, there’s been no update on whether any charges have been filed.