One man is dead and another hospitalized with gunshot wound after an argument broke out in front of a home at 1039 Darrow Ave. late last night.
Evanston police say that when officers arrived on the scene they found Craig Romon Smith Jr. dead of a gunshot wound to the head.
One man is dead and another hospitalized with gunshot wound after an argument broke out in front of a home at 1039 Darrow Ave. late last night.
Evanston police say that when officers arrived on the scene they found Craig Romon Smith Jr. dead of a gunshot wound to the head.
Officers also learned that another man had arrived at a hospital from the same scene suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Police Commander Tom Guenther says that police learned from interviews with witnesses that five men began arguing in front of the home around 11:30 p.m. During the dispute, Guenther says, someone produced a gun and the two man were shot.
No charges have been filed yet, but police are continuing to investigate the incident along with the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force and the state’s attorney’s office.
The county medical examiner’s office says Smith was 21 years old and lived at 1131 Dewey Ave., about two blocks from where he was shot.
Shooting tragedy
The tragedy of a young person being shot in our area is unsettling for all- understandably. But what we need to know, or remember, is that Craig Smith, the person shot and killed in this incident, is a young man who grew up in our neighborhood.
His mother and both sets of grandparents are our long time neighbors. We watched Craig grow up and we knew him as a kind and gentle person, not one prone to being in trouble as a teen or as a young adult. He is one of our children.
Before anyone speculates and makes assumptions about how or why this occurred we need to stop and acknowledge this tragedy.
When the community meeting is held on Tuesday, 7:15pm at Robert Crown Center, the EPD and aldermen will be more able to offer more specific details about this incident.
Craig was a good kid. This
Craig was a good kid. This sucks.
Evanston shooting.
I second the message posted by our former neighbors Laura Montenegro and Dickelle Fonda. Our sympathies and hearts go out to Craig’s family.
Suzanne Cosgrove
Tragedy
I met Craig’s father from coaching baseball with him last year and met his son on one occasion. Words can not communicate the sympathy I feel for this victims father and family.
My only question is how do we make guns less available in Evanston, Chicago…etc. How does an argument end in the senseless death of a young man? One man is dead another injured and a third, the shooter’s life, will be changed forever. Hopefully, something postive will come out of the meeting. Is there anyway to make handguns less available?
Gun availability
Especially handguns… First, there are federal laws in place: You MUST be over 21 to purchase a handgun. If purchased from a dealer, there are forms to fill out, and approvals to be called in.
On a state level, a FOID card is required to purchase, own, or access firearms, similarly for ammunition. The state has a mandatory (again, if purchased from a dealer) waiting period. Illinois is also one of the ONLY two states that has NO provision for the legal carrying of ANY concealed weapon.
On a local level, Evanston specifically bans the sale of firearms and dealers within the city. The nearest gun dealer is in Lincolnwood.
Instead of making guns less available, how about enforcing the existing laws? First set of questions to ask: Was the handgun used against this unfortunate young man legally purchased? Was the shooter licensed to own a gun? Was he of age to own it? My guess is NO to all three. Secondary questions to consider: Why isn’t the shooter mentioned in any of the articles- is he in custody or not (and WHY NOT)? Why was this shooter carrying a firearm in a state that specifically makes it illegal to carry? Has the gun been recovered by police? Where did the gun come from?
Making more laws to ban or limit availability will ONLY impact already LEGAL, and law-abiding, gun owners. Those on the fringes of legality wishing to obtain guns (or drugs, or anything else) will find a way, unless the courts are willing to enforce the existing laws.
Yes, it is a tragedy that this young man died, and the family has my sympathy, but it might be better to ask – – – What made this arguement escalate to a point of terminal violence? What can be done to stop that sort of reaction in one individual?