Police Seek Persons of Interest In Shooting That Claimed Three

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Feb 21, 2009 10:30PM

Police have confirmed they have determined "people of interests" in connection with yesterday's South Side shooting near the intersection of East 87th Street and South Exchange Avenue that claimed the lives of three teenagers. Chicago Asst. Police Supt. James Jackson credits residents from the neighborhood for providing information, saying, "A lot of it had to do with the community stepping forward." The victims were:

• Johnny Edwards, 13, a 7th-grader at Arnold Mireles Academy
• Raheem Washington, 15, a freshman at Bowen High School
• Kendrick Pitts, 17, a freshman at Bowen High School

A friend of Washington's told said he and Washington were nonactive gang members and the shooting comes on the heels of several gang-related fights and incidents in the area and occurred near the spot where a 10-year-old was shot and killed by a stray bullet last fall.

The three victims, at least one of whom was believed to have gang affiliations, were standing near 87th and Exchange when they had an altercation with a rival gang member, according to a law-enforcement source. The shooter then emerged, apparently from a nearby gangway, with an assault rifle and opened fire on the victims, the source said.

The shooter fired several rounds and got into a dark-colored car, possibly a Dodge Neon or Chevrolet Cavalier, with as many as two other occupants, the source said. The shooter fired more shots from the car, and the car fled the scene, the source said.

Police believe that an AK-47 rifle was used; they are also investigating whether there was a second gunman, the source said.

Police are also looking into surveillance footage of the area thanks to two pod cameras that are located in the vicinity of the intersection where the shooting took place.

Image from CBS 2 video