CHICAGO, IL – A usually bustling restaurant and bar located on South Side, Chicago, became the site of a grim incident last Friday night. A man currently fights for his life following a shooting that ensued as an argument escalated inside Buffalo Wings and Rings, leaving the Bridgeport community shaken.
According to local residents like Robin Carberry, the shooting, which occurred around 11:30 p.m. near West 34th Street and South Halsted Street, may have implications on community members’ sense of safety. “I’m so scared he’ll come back here,” Carberry shared.
Witnesses reported to police that an altercation escalated between a 32-year-old patron and two other men inside the crowded establishment. The argument quickly turned violent as one participant drew a gun, shooting the 32-year-old several times before fleeing the scene. Amidst the chaos, investigators discovered a firearm in the restaurant and another concealed in a nearby alleyway.
Local businesses expressed their shock at the incident, with Alex from neighborhood Smokey’s Smoke Shop noting this as a first in his eight years of work. The injured man was quickly rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment, and he is still reportedly in critical condition.
In response to this rare outbreak of violence in an otherwise peaceful area, Alderwoman Nicole Lee has announced plans to increase police patrols. She voiced her concerns for the escalating use of firearms in criminal incidents, stating, “It is really frightening, the number of incidents now that involve guns.”
There have been no other injuries reported apart from the unnamed victim. No arrests have been made, and no suspects are currently in custody.