9 shot, 2 killed in Washington Park gunfight

CHICAGO - Two groups clashed in Washington Park last night and police said members of each group opened fire on each other, leaving nine people shot in the incident and two killed.

The incident happened around 7:45 p.m. last night on the north side of Washington Park on the city's south side.

Investigators continue to work on the case, but it reportedly began as "a personal conflict with gang affiliations," Chicago Police Supt. David Brown told reporters on Wednesday.

Police initially responded to a shotspotter notification in the park and found that an argument between the two above mentioned groups had escalated and they had both opened fire on each other.

The victims and their injuries are as follows, all injuries were transported to University of Chicago Hospital:

• Victim #1: 43-year-old male, later identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office as Lionel Coward, suffered a gunshot wound to the back of the head and died a short time after arriving at the hospital.
• Victim #2: 30-year-old male who shot in the left shin. Good condition.
• Victim #3: 39-year-old male shot to the right ankle. Good condition.
• Victim #4: 27-year-old female shot in the upper left thigh. Good condition.
• Victim #5: 22-yera-old male shot twice in the left elbow. Good condition.
• Victim #6: 19-year-old male shot to the right shoulder. Good condition. (EDIT: This victim was taken to Insight Hospital, not University of Chicago).
• Victim #7: 20-year-old male with multiple gunshot wounds to the body. Originally listed in critical condition but he later died from his injuries.
• Victim #8: 33-year-old female. Graze wound to the upper right arm. Good condition.
• Victim #9: 46-year-old male with a graze wound to the right calf. Good condition.

Police noted at least 43 shell casings were found on the scene, and believe at least one of the shooters was using an automatic weapon.

Officials further noted that there is no one currently in custody and some of the above victims were uncooperative with police. They went so far as to offer a $15,000 reward to the general public for information about the shooting.

Anonymous tipsters can call (833) 408-0069. Area One detectives continue to investigate.

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