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Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Avondale

Man With Concealed Carry Permit Returned Fire In Avondale Shootout, Police Say

The shooting happened just before 11 p.m. at Pulaski Road and Belmont Avenue, police and witnesses said.

Evidence markers on the ground in front of Belford Tavern, 3200 N. Pulaski Rd., after the July 13 shootout.
Photo courtesy Dominic Gwinn.
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AVONDALE — Two vehicles exchanged gunfire near the intersection of Pulaski Road and Belmont Avenue Friday night, according to witnesses.

“I was sitting in my local corner bar when I heard about eight shots,” said Dominic Gwinn. He lives in the area and was hanging out at Belford Tavern, 3200 N. Pulaski Rd., when he said he and other patrons heard gunfire. “By the time me and several others ran outside it was already over.”

The shots rang out around 10:48 p.m. on Friday when there were about a dozen people at the bar, Gwinn said. After the shooting witnesses said one of the vehicles headed north on Pulaski.

Early Saturday morning Ronald Westbrooks, a police spokesperson, said it appeared the shooting had involved three men in their early 20s who had been driving in one vehicle when a silver sedan with three other men pulled alongside them.

The three men in the sedan reportedly began flashing gang signs before one of them drew a gun and began firing, Westbrooks said.

“However the 21-year-old victim, who is a concealed carry holder, displayed his own weapon and returned fire,” said Westbrooks. “Neither party was shot and no injuries have been reported.”

The gunfire damaged a window at a BP gas station located at 3968 W. Belmont Ave. Photo courtesy Dominic Gwinn.

The gunfire happened across the street from a BP gas station at 3968 W. Belmont Ave. that appears to have at least one surveillance camera facing the intersection. Additionally, the intersection has a red light camera that faces south on Pulaski.

As of early Saturday morning, no one was in custody and Area North detectives were still investigating.

“I’m kind of surprised this happened here. It’s usually a quiet neighborhood,” Gwinn said “There hasn’t been much gang activity.”