ROGERS PARK — A young woman killed in a mass shooting Sunday at Pottawattomie Park was not the intended target of the attack, Rogers Park’s alderwoman said.
The 19-year-old was one of four people shot about 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the park, 7340 N. Rogers Ave., police said. The group was standing in the area behind the park’s field house when two people walked into the park and fired in their direction, police said.
The woman — identified as Keyonce Gladney — was shot in her chest and was taken in critical condition to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where she was pronounced dead, police said.
A 22-year-old woman was shot in her right foot and was taken to Swedish Hospital in good condition. A 20-year-old man was shot in his forehead and and a 19-year-old man was shot in his left hip, police said. Both men were taken to St. Francis in good condition.
The shooters ran away and were seen heading north on Winchester Avenue, police said.
Gladney was visiting Chicago with her sister from out of state, and both were in the group that was attacked Sunday, according to the Chicago Tribune. Both sisters were shot.
Gladney had just graduated from high school and was working multiple jobs while planning to become a paramedic, her father told the newspaper.
The shooting appeared to be a targeted attack toward one of the men wounded in the incident, Ald. Maria Hadden (49th) said.
“Unfortunately, all four were shot,” Hadden said in an update to neighbors Monday morning. “Our condolences go out to the family of the young woman.”
No one has been arrested as detectives continue to investigate, police said Monday. Police officials declined to comment on if the shooting was targeted.
Police and Park District officials maintained a presence Monday at Pottawattomie Park, where park programs were taking place as normal. Crews could be seen power washing the area near where the shooting took place.
Park District CEO Rosa Escareño visited Pottawattomie Park Monday morning to talk with park staff and security, the district confirmed. The district’s crisis support manager was also at the park to meet with staff and patrons.
Park programs remained opened Monday, though the field house will close early at 6:30 p.m. Security has been added to the park following the shooting, a Park District spokesperson confirmed.
“It is important for us to be a resource to our community by offering services that our patrons depend on to plan their daily lives,” spokesperson Irene Tostado said in a statement. “In instances of heightened vigilance, the Park District to safeguard our park spaces and strengthen our security efforts as well as ensure more consistent coverage where needed.”
Much of the rest of the park, including its playground, basketball courts and grass field, were vacant Monday morning. Rogers Park neighbor Justice Assani sat on a bench in the otherwise empty park and said she was shocked to hear of the violence at a popular neighborhood attraction on a Sunday afternoon.
“It’s so sad,” Assani said. “It’s not even summer yet. It’s going to be busy this summer. That’s why I keep my kids and myself inside.”
More officers will be added to the Pottawattomie Park area in light of the shooting, Hadden said.
“The 24th [Police] District will have additional patrols in the area as we figure out what happened, the cause for this, and look to make sure we don’t have any further shootings in the area,” Hadden said in an update to constituents Monday.
Support Local News!
Subscribe to Block Club Chicago, an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Already subscribe? Click here to gift a subscription, or you can support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation.
Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast:
