CHICAGO (WLS) — Two people were killed in a targeted robbery and shooting in Chinatown on Tuesday evening, Chicago police and the local councilman said.
The shooting happened in the 2400 block of South Normal Avenue at approximately 9:56 p.m.
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Officers responded to the shots fired when they found the first victim outside a home with multiple gunshot wounds, police said. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
A second victim was found with a gunshot wound to the shoulder and taken to a hospital, where he later died, police said.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the victims as 32-year-old Faliang Gao and 33-year-old Jianru Zheng. Gao was shot several times and Zheng was shot in the back.
They both lived on the block where the shooting occurred.
Police suspect that the shooting took place in a home.
“I heard the shooting sound, and then I heard the ambulance and the police car coming here,” said resident Betty. “Very terrible.”
Some residents did not want to be identified.
One said she heard a woman calling for help, and it was apparently gunfire.
“I’m at home cooking, at that moment I hear one shooting. I only hear one shooting, I’m not sure if it’s a shooting. I thought it was fireworks,” she said.
Wade Chan was born and raised in Chinatown and is calling for an increased law enforcement presence in the neighborhood.
“We are processing. We are telling our friends and our family to be careful,” Chan said. “I think it’s more frustration that we can’t do anything. All we can do is turn around and literally let our guard down.”
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Councilwoman Nicole Lee said she spoke with police and the incident appeared to be a targeted armed robbery.
“It’s very shocking; this is becoming way too normal in this city. And even though the statistics are low, it doesn’t feel good to know that two people have been shot and killed right next to you, just steps away from you,” Lee said . . ‘I don’t live far from here. I can walk here.’
She warns Chinatown neighbors to be aware of their surroundings.
“What we need to do is continue to work with the police,” Lee said. “We have to be vigilant as community members; if we see something, we have to say something. We no longer have a ShotSpotter at this time. Now we rely more on the public to report these crimes.”
Councilor Lee said surveillance footage has been shared with police to assist with the investigation.
“We feel a deep sense of pity and sympathy for the family. I think that’s the most important thing,” said Homan Wong, director of the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce. “I think it’s an isolated incident; police are investigating. I think everyone should know that Chinatown remains a safe place.”
No one is in custody and Area One detectives are investigating.
“They think it’s a target, but not necessarily something to be afraid of in the area. But the Ninth District will obviously pay special attention to this area in the near future,” Lee said.
Chicago police left door hangers in the area asking for information, using characters in Mandarin and Cantonese.
They emphasized that information can be shared anonymously.
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