Shooting outside club
by BRIAN NADIG
Alderman Timothy Cullerton (38th) plans to discuss security concerns with the owner of Club E, 5415 W. Irving Park Road, after a gang-related incident in which a 25-year-old man was shot shortly after leaving the nightclub at about 2 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4.
Cub security flagged down a police car after one of its patrons was shot in his left arm near Cuyler and Long avenues, according to police. Officers found the man’s girlfriend hiding between two parked cars.
The man, who was identified by police as a gang member, reported that two men fired three to five shots at him and his girlfriend and that no words were exchanged between him and the assailants, police. The assailants were described as Hispanic and wearing black clothing, with one of them carrying a baseball bat.
The shooting incident is the fourth that has occurred since August near Portage Park, 4100 N. Long Ave., where 16th (Jefferson Park) District police have increased patrols. At a Sept. 9 community meeting on gang violence, several residents expressed concern about rowdy behavior by patrons of Club E, which is across the street from the park.
Cullerton said that it is not known if the latest shooting is related to the club or if it was a random act, but he wants the club to formulate a plan for how it will address concerns about loud behavior, littering and fighting outside the club. The club holds parties which cater predominantly to people from outside the neighborhood, he said.
"A lot of people are calling to close the club," Cullerton said. He added that the owner has attended monthly beat meetings in an effort to address the concerns of residents.
Several of the people who were shot recently are gang members, and they have not been cooperating with police, Cullerton said.
