- Credibility:
CHICAGO — A Wrigleyville bar is raising money for its head of security, who was shot Saturday in Lakeview.
Robert Glover, known as “Big Rob” to his many friends and coworkers, is in the hospital recovering after being shot in his face, said Shannon Hess, the event and marketing coordinator at The Country Club, a bar at 3462 N. Clark St.
Glover likely has months of healing ahead of him before he can return to work, Hess said. Hoping to help, Country Club has created a GoFundMe for Glover and will host a fundraiser for him on Feb. 23.
“He’s the first person people see when they walk in. Everyone loves him and it’s just such an unfortunate situation,” Hess said. “We need to help him out as far as paying his medical bills and any expenses he’ll incur from being off work for so long.”
The shooting happened Saturday: Glover and his friends were outside a business in the 3600 block of North Ashland Avenue when a man got angry, pulled out a gun and fired shots, Hess said.
The man “didn’t care where he was shooting,” Hess said. Police said Glover was hit in his cheek and neck.
The alleged gunman ran from police and then got into an “armed confrontation” with officers, during which an officer shot and killed him, police said. A gun was found.
Glover was hospitalized and placed in the Intensive Care Unit.
“Everyone [at Country Club] was really scared that night because you hear the word ‘shooting’ and think the worst,” Hess said.
Hess visited Glover earlier this week and he was “still out of it,” she said, but he’s expected to be moved out of the ICU this week, which is a “great” sign.
Still, “it’s going to be a long, long recovery,” Hess said.
Country Club created the GoFundMe on Tuesday and has already raised more than $2,700, though Hess hopes to get at least $10,000 for Glover. A friend of Glover’s has also raised thousands through an online fundraiser.
“It’s just been insane — great insane,” Hess said. “That’s how many people are impacted by Big Rob. He just has such a big heart, and everyone know that he would do the same for them.”
The money will help Glover with his medical bills and other financial obligations until he can work, Hess said. Glover lives with his girlfriend and their pet bulldog, Oreo, on the North Side.
“I don’t think he’s even let [the amount of money raised] sink in yet, y’know?” Hess said. “I don’t even think that he’s realized how many people out there care about him and want the best for him.”
Glover has worked for the restaurant group that runs Country Club for 12 or 13 years, Hess said, and she’s known him for almost as long. She’s never seen him in a bad mood, she said.
Glover works at the bar and its sister establishment, Pitchfork, five to six days a week during the Cubs season and four to five days a week during the off-season. He handles scheduling and hiring of security personnel and his constant presence outside the businesses means he’s become a familiar face to residents, Hess said.
Country Club will host an all-day fundraiser for Glover on Feb. 23. The bar will be open noon-2 a.m. at 3462 N. Clark St., and all money raised will go to Glover, Hess said.
“He’s friendly to everyone, always smiling,” Hess said. “Everyone on the block knows him, even if they don’t come into Country Club. He’s the best friend. He’d give you the shirt off his back if he could.”
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