CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
When the heat goes up, unfortunately too often the crime does as well.
Five people were shot within five hours in Chicago on this Fourth of July. From Wednesday morning to early Thursday, Five men were killed and at least 21 were wounded in separate shootings.
Police told FOX Chicago News a drive-by occurred at this intersection on Chicago's South Side near Marquette and Cottage Grove about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Three men were hit a couple of times each. They were taken to different hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. Police said it was gang related.
Around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on the West Side, 31-year-old Robert Snipes was shot in the arm and back during an argument with another man on the street. that argument on the 1700 block of North Pulaski Road, authorities said.
Snipes, of the 200 block of North Kostner Avenue, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, were he later died. Chicago police are looking for a tan van that seen leaving the scene.
A 31-year-old man was shot and killed in the Logan Square neighborhood on the northwest side.
At 11:20 p.m., a 35-year-old man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the head in the 100 block of East 68th Street, according to police News Affairs. Police said the man was shot during an attempted robbery.
Antonio Givan, 35, of the 6900 block of South Emerald Avenue, was dead on the scene, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
About 11:22 p.m., Corey Parker, 27, of the 7800 block of South Laflin Street, was found dead with gunshot wounds to the head and chest in the 1500 block of West 78th Street, authorities said, adding that the man's name was not immediately available.
About 2:05 a.m. Thursday, Anthony Suarez, 27, of the 4600 block of South Paulina Street, was shot and in a gang-related, drive-by shooting, authorities said. He was pronounced dead at 2:44 a.m. at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, according to the medical examiner's office.
At 3:39 a.m. an 18-year-old man was found fatally shot in the chest in the 4800 block of West St. Paul Avenue, police said.
The teenager had not been identified Thursday morning.
Among the 21 wounded in separate shootings throughout the city was a 32-year-old man shot in the abdomen at Washington Park.
Police said the shooting took place in the 5500 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue about 9:32 p.m. Wednesday.
Paramedics took the man to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County, were he was listed in serious condition, police said.
Tuesday night fifteen people were wounded by guns, including a 10-year-old girl out playing on the West Side about 11:30 p.m.
Witnesses told FOX Chicago News the child and her mother's boyfriend were part of crowd trying to cool off after a fire hydrant had been popped open.
Moments later someone opened fire hitting the girl in her stomach and hand. Her mother's boyfriend was also hit, but is said to be in good condition.
The girl was still in critical condition at Stroger Hospital Wednesday night.
When FOX Chicago went to these neighborhoods to try and get local reaction to these shootings, they would not speak on camera. But a sense of unease and tension was definitely present in these conversations.
People are ready to pack up and move if necessary, unless these violent crimes cease. They said something must be done – and soon.
They said they cannot depend on the Mayor, the city, or the police to act soon enough. Those who can really have an influence on stopping these shootings are the people in the community.
They said residents must carry out the saying Chicagoans are so familiar with: if you see something, say something.
The people also said as long as the heat wave lurks over the city, it will be hot and tense on the streets.
The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
