Update 10 p.m.: One man was killed and two male teenagers were injured in a shooting on the Evanston lakefront shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Evanston police say a 15-year-old youth is in critical condition at an area hospital while a second 15-year-old`suffered a minor gunshot wound.
Police say the man who died was either 18 or 19 years old.
Northwestern university officials issued a “shelter in place” order to campus residents as police searched for suspects in the shooting at Clark Street Beach, in the 1800 block of Sheridan Road. The shelter in place order was lifted shortly before 10 p.m.
Numerous police and fire units responded to the shooting scene and traffic on Sheridan was blocked from Davis to Clark streets.
Evanston police said shortly after 9 p.m. that while no suspects were in custody, “there does not appear to be a continued threat” and that the victims were not Northwestern University students.
Allie Oshkin and Olga Tkachenko told Evanston Now’s Jeff Hirsh they were walking near the beach on the unusually warm April evening when they heard what appeared to be a verbal argument between two groups of people on the beach.
“One guy was yelling, like he was trying to prove something to another guy,” Oshkin said. “Then we heard multiple shots,” Tkachenko added, and everybody went running.
The university, in a campus safety advisory posted at 9:24 p.m., said police were searching for four suspects involved in the shooting who were last seen heading north on Sheridan Road in a sedan.
The advisory said police were searching campus and surveillance film for clues.
Evanston police later said they were looking for two suspects who fled from the beach on foot and then in a vehicle.
Police from neighboring communities were called in to help at the shooting scene.
Terrible news for Evanston. Seems like there hasn’t been a lot of positive momentum here lately. I’m sure a permanent downtown homeless shelter will put the city back on the path to prosperity.
Walt, you seem like a lovely guy. What a homeless shelter will do is give people living on the street a place to live and support they need to transition to permanent shelter. That doesn’t seem so terrible, does it? Don’t think we can blame the homeless for all the gun violence.
I also wish Walt hadn’t gone there. Not every problem in Evanston is connected to our growing homeless population. I can tell you’re a compassionate person. Your idea about a homeless shelter is a lovely one, but unfortunately the reality is not so simple.
“Connections is no different than many other progressive major non-profits in a city. They often get the most funding yet cause the most problems. Despite calling themselves ‘inclusive’ they are the least inclusive people ever that will bully, dox and criticize anyone that disagrees with them. This is not how you end homelessness.”
To be better informed about the complex situation in Evanston, take two minutes to read this thread from homeless advocate Kevin Dahlgren: https://twitter.com/kevinvdahlgren/status/1644759826243911680
I don’t think he was saying the shelter caused this. My interpretation is that this incident added to the perception that our downtown isn’t safe and the quality of life is degrading. I think the demise of our schools is a contributing factor. People see similarities to the direction Portland and San Francisco have gone in.
I have been assaulted a couple of times by the homeless just walking around the 4th ward. When I called the cops, the officer said that his hands are tied when it comes to arresting or citing the homeless due to city policy so his best advise was me to give way to them instead. AND I am the tax payer paying the salary fo Biss and his cronies, while the homeless runs rampant in Evanston. We need a recall and get Biss out of Evanston.
I’d support that, but if our school board elections are any indicator, Evanston voters prefer activists and social engineering to sound thinking and focus on fundamentals.
Biss is like a deity here. I mean he checks all the boxes of what Evanston wants. (Reparations and Guaranteed income etc.) I bet we start seeing connections for the homeless- oops “unhomed” – in every ward. Pretty soon Portland and San Francisco will look at us and say “We need to be more like Evanston”.
Biss ain’t going anywhere (unless a senate or congress seat opens up).
I’m not sure if Walt is a lovely guy, but I think he may be making the point that Connections for the Homeless’ failed experiment at the Margarita Inn is one of the many contributing factors to attracting Criminals, Crime, gangs, drugs, and guns to Evanston. A low entry barrier homeless shelter with no requirement for dependency treatment is a recipe for disaster. While this incident is likely unrelated to homelessness, the broader issue is that Evanston appears to be quickly becoming a haven for criminals thanks to our tolerance for disorder.
This particular incident is between unfortunate teenagers, taking a walk and probably a gang related confrontation, not homeless. Let’s talk about gangs & guns that surround Evanston
The point is that – our current elected officials have put Evanston citizens at risk due to their policy that lack of focus in law and order.