Whoever fired at least 10 shots over a fence in Evanston last evening was not going after the person who was hit, according to Evanston Police.
But a 13-year-old girl, at a backyard party with some other youngsters in the 1300 block of Fowler Avenue, was the one shot in the neck by an unknown gunman, who fired and then ran.
Evanston Police Sgt. Kenny Carter, who updated reporters Tuesday afternoon, said the victim remains in critical condition at Lurie Children’s Hospital.
The shooting “did not appear to be a random act,” Carter said, but also noted that the 13-year-old was “not the target.”
Carter said the teen was the only one known to be hit, in the 6:20 p.m. incident.
Carter said his press briefing was given “with a heavy heart.”
“Tragedies like this not only affect the family of the victim,” he noted, “but also the community as a whole.”
This kind of shooting leaves emotional scars, Carter added, “which are hard to heal.”
There is no information at this time about any suspect or motive. No one is in custody.
Carter did say, however, that there is “no continued threat to the community.”
The North Region Major Crimes Task Force is assisting in the invesgitation.
Anyone with information which can help is urged to call the Evanston Police Detective Bureau at 847-866-5050, or use Text-a-Tip, by texting to 274637 and starting the message with EPDTIP.
This is the second serious shooting in Evanston in less than two weeks.
On July 14, 29-year-old Servados Hamros was killed following some sort of confrontation with unknown individuals in Ladd Arboretum.