Woman, 24, shot in chest while in North Side Chicago backyard: police

CHICAGO - A rare shooting in a North Side Chicago neighborhood has left a 24-year-old woman in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the chest.

Gunfire erupted Wednesday at 2:42 p.m. in an alley in the 2400 block of West Eastwood Avenue. There may have been up to three men involved in this shooting, based on what neighbors told FOX 32, but Chicago Police said the shooter is "unknown."

Dozens of shell casings were recovered at the scene.

"What used to be a very quiet, middle-class neighborhood now has a shooting," said David Montgomery, who lives a block away from where it happened. "I think this is shaking up people because it's close to home, literally."

The woman was shot in the backyard of a 3-unit apartment building. The shooting left a Hyundai Sedan parked behind the building riddled with bullet holes.

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As of Wednesday night, it was still unclear whether the woman was in that vehicle, or whether she was even the target. The next door neighbor said the victim is a resident of the building.

Several neighbors who didn't want to be identified say they saw three men running from the scene. The situation certainly has neighbors of the historically peaceful neighborhood pretty shaken.

"I think we need more police patrols," Montgomery said. "I think we need better police investigating and perhaps what we need to do is establish some type of neighborhood watch."

The Chicago Fire Department said an acquaintance of the victim drove her to Swedish Covenant Hospital in critical condition. She has since been transferred to Stroger Hospital.

Police had no one in custody as of Wednesday night.