More gunfire reported on Giddings St. in Jefferson Park;

by BRIAN NADIG

At least 45 spent shell casings have been found on West Giddings Street in Jefferson Park following two recent incidents, according to Chicago police.

Chicago police are investigating gunfire that reportedly occurred at about 11:25 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, in the 5900 block of West Giddings Street in Jefferson Park, about 1 1/2 blocks from Prussing School. Thirty-two shell casings were found, and some residential structures and a car were reported damaged, police said.

A witness reported that he saw three men as they fired shots out of the window of a black Jeep sport utility vehicle and then fled east in the alley, according to police. Officers recovered 9 spent 40-caliber shell casings, 10 spent 9-millimeter shell casings, 13 spent 357-caliber shell casings, one fired bullet and two bullet fragments from the alley, police said. 

Responding officers reported that a garage was shot eight times, four shots striking the facade while the other 4 shots struck the garage door, according to police. The owner reported that one of the bullets damaged a headlight on a vehicle parked inside the garage, police said.

A resident of the 6300 block of West Giddings Street reported that apparently a stray bullet from the incident damaged a window in his apartment, according to police.

The resident reported that he was sitting in his living room when he heard something shatter, discovered an east-facing window in his dining room had been shot and recovered a fired bullet from the window frame, police said.

Also in the area, a man reported that several shots were fired in the 5600 block of West Giddings Street at about 3:55 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, according to police. The man provided surveillance footage that showed a sedan drove east on Giddings when 10 to 15 shots were fired, according to police. It was unclear how the sedan was involved in the incident but the man later discovered 13 spent 10-millimeter shell casings on the street, which were recovered by officers, police said. Detailed descriptions of the shooter were not provided, according to police.

No injuries were reported as a result of these incidents, according to police. Surveillance footage from the area is being gathered and reviewed, police said.

Prussing head administrator, Sandra Carlson, sent the following letter to parents after the Oct. 17 gunfire:

“Safety is always my top priority, which is why I am writing to notify you of a situation that occurred today. This morning, we received a report that shots had been fired in our school’s neighborhood.

“We notified the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the CPS Office of Safety and Security. CPD confirmed that there was no safety threat to Prussing. All of our students and staff members are safe, and our school day has otherwise proceeded smoothly.”

Meanwhile, a catalytic converter theft was reported this month in the 6000 block of West Giddings Street.

In April, a group of 12- and 13-year olds were robbed at gunpoint while playing basketball in an alley on West Leland Avenue near the school, according to police.

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