Mass Shooting in Chicago's Washington Park Leaves 9 People Shot wherein 2 have died

By Edward Era Barbacena

Chicago on Tuesday saw a violent night when a mass shooting in Washington Park left at least seven people injured and at least two people dead.

Officials during a press conference late Tuesday said a verbal altercation between two groups at the park escalated and that the two groups fired multiple shots at each other, resulting several people shot.

Witnesses tell NBC 5 that a group was having a barbecue at the park, near the city's Hyde Park neighborhood, when a gunman opened fire.

According to police, the victims range in age from 19 to 46 years old.

According to authorities, Chicago Police received an alert from ShotSpotter, a system that detects and alerts law enforcement to illegal gunshots, at 7:45 p.m. Tuesday for the 500 block of E. 51st St., in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood.

While an investigation remains in its early stages, witnesses say they heard a flurry of gunfire erupt at that time.

According to authorities, nine people in total were shot, and two people were killed.

A male, 30, sustained a gunshot wound to the left leg and was transported to a nearby hospital in good condition. A second male victim, 39, sustained a gunshot wound to the ankle and was transported to a nearby hospital, also in good condition. Another victim, a female, 27, was also listed in good condition after being transported to a nearby hospital for a gunshot wound to the thigh.

Two other male victims were last listed in good condition -- a 22-year-old, who suffered gunshot wounds to the elbow, and a 19-year-old, who sustained a gunshot wound to the shoulder.

Two other victims, a 33-year-old female and a 46-year-old male also suffered gunshot wounds; the female sustained a gunshot to the arm, and the male sustained a graze wound to the leg. Both were last listed in good condition.

One victim, 43, suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head, and was pronounced dead after being transported to a nearby hospital. Another victim, a male, 20, sustained multiple gunshot wounds to the body and was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition Tuesday evening, police said.

At 11:16 p.m., that victim was later pronounced dead as a result of his injuries.

Authorities have not provided on update on arrests, or if suspects are in police custody.

Police on Tuesday during a press conference announced a $15,000 reward for information in connection with the shooting.