Note to Gang-Bangers: Bicycle Drive-Bys Leave You Vulnerable To Enemy Fire

By Sam Bakken in News on Jun 21, 2005 6:34PM

Around 9:00 p.m. Friday, Sedric Franklin allegedly executed a drive-by shooting while riding a bike on the sidewalk in the 1400 block of South Kedzie Avenue. Cheers Sedric! Firing a handgun while riding a bike and actually hitting your target takes skill. But dude, drive-bys are sooooo 1990s. Join us here in the 21st century. Everybody knows the hip thing in the 20-aughts is the suicide bomber. But maybe you were celebrating Chicago history—some people do say that drive-by shootings got their start here in Chicago during the Race Riot of 1919.

Police say the 23-year-old Franklin shot 28-year-old Bill Hall and they found Franklin blocks away with bullet wounds of his own. Police also say they recovered a handgun from Franklin. Both Franklin and Hall were taken to the hospital and both are expected to recover.

On Sunday police only charged Franklin with aggravated assault and unlawful use of a weapon because Hall wouldn't press charges.

Update: A reader said they thought the article we linked to, "The Suicide Bombers" by Avishai Margalit, was less than "evenhanded". They suggested this article from The Guardian instead.