Temporary police camera being installed at Chopin Park after multiple gunshot incidents 

by BRIAN NADIG

A mobile police observation camera has been set up at Chopin Park, 3420 N. Long Ave., following several shooting incidents at or near the park, according to Alderwoman Ruth Cruz (30th).

The 16th (Jefferson Park) Police District worked with the Office of Emergency Management to have it relocated from the east end of the ward, where a permanent POD camera has been installed, to the park, Cruz said. 

The camera is intended to help provide additional surveillance of the park, Cruz said. Officers in the district’s Strategic Decision Support Center will have access to live and recorded video feed from the park.
“Families have shared their hesitation of going to the park (with their children) and walking their dog there,” Cruz said.

Cruz added that her office is working with both the police and other city agencies to address safety concerns related to the park. 

In the latest incident, beat officers reported hearing gunshots at about 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, in the 5400 block of West Roscoe Street, across from the park, according to police.

Witnesses told the officers that a man was standing on a sidewalk and shooting at three other men who were sitting on bleachers in the park, more than 100 feet away, according to police. The men on the bleachers fled the area, and no one was reported injured, police said.

Some of the witnesses reported that that they last saw the gunman fleeing east on Roscoe toward Long Avenue and said that a red Honda or silver sport utility vehicle may have been involved in the incident, police said. The gunman was described as White Hispanic, 5-2 or 5-3 and wearing a face mask and a dark blue hooded sweater with the word “GAP” on it, police said.

Seven shell casings were found in the area, police said.

Cruz said the following in a letter to the community, “We are working with the 16th District to increase surveillance in the area to help ensure the safety of our community. If you have any camera footage from the vicinity, we strongly urge you to share it with the 16th District police. Your assistance is much appreciated and could be crucial in helping with the investigation. You can reach them at 312-744-4521 or via email at Sdsc016@chicagopolice.org or Caps.016district@chicagopolice.org.”

Also, a man who had been a victim in a 2024 shooting at Chopin Park was arrested at about 9:25 p.m. Friday, Aug. 23, in the 5300 block of West Cornelia Avenue after he reportedly was found in possession of a stolen Glock firearm from Crest Hill, police said.

Officers reported that the suspect became combative as they tried to search his cross bag, which reportedly appeared to have a weighted object on it, and that they had to perform an emergency take down to gain control of the suspect, police said. The firearm reportedly had been converted from semi-automatic to fully automatic, police said.

In addition, a teenager reported that the trunk of his vehicle was struck by a bullet at about 4:55 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, while he was driving in the 5200 block of West Cornelia Avenue, police said. The bullet reportedly was shot from someone in a black Lexus sport utility vehicle, police said. 

In June a man reportedly was shot near the basketball court at the park. Two suspects were arrested on gun charges near the park but were not charged at the time in connection with the shooting of the man.

It’s not clear how long the mobile POD camera will be at Chopin Park.

Cruz said that there is “no timeline” for its removal.

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