CHICAGO – A woman said she jumped into action Saturday night to protect her children as a man allegedly tried to break into their home in the city’s South Shore neighborhood.
According to the Chicago Police Department, officers responded to a report of a person shot around 10:45 p.m. in the 2300 block of East 69th Street. They found a man, initially believed to be the victim of a shooting, with a gunshot wound to his leg.
Investigators quickly learned the man had allegedly tried to break into a nearby home and was shot by a woman who is a Concealed Carry License (CCL) holder.
“I’m just super shaken up. I’m a single mom. I live here with my children, so that’s the last thing I expect, for someone to try and come in on my daughter,” the woman, who did not want to be identified, told WGN News. “It’s just like a nightmare that came true.”
The woman told WGN News she had come home from celebrating her birthday with her family. Not long after, everything took a turn for the worst as her daughter was in the bathroom.
“While she was showering, a guy like put his hand through the window and she ran out, ‘Mom, somebody’s coming through my room, coming through my window,’” said the woman. “I just went into action and when I actually saw the guy, he was still hanging on her window and he just looked at me and I said, ‘I’ve got a gun, I’m going to shoot.’ I just fired a shot. I didn’t even know he was hit ’til the police came.”
The man, who has not yet been identified publicly by Chicago police, was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital in fair condition.
“I owned that firearm for multiple years and that was the first time I actually ever used – the first and only time I ever used it,” said the woman. “I didn’t want anything to happen to them at all – I would rather it happen to me before something happens to them.”
The woman said she did not know the suspect and the entire incident has left her shaken up. Some neighbors in the area also expressed their concern after learning of what happened.
“This is something I’ve never seen before in my life,” said Gideon Charles, who’s lived in the neighborhood for about 12 years. “This is a shock to me because this is a very quiet neighborhood.”
“You hear about it all the time, but it’s somewhere else, but when it’s right in front of you it’s pretty concerning,” said Ron Miller, who has called the neighborhood home for close to 10 years. “It’s Chicago and we’re not under siege or anything like that, but it all concerns me. I certainly prefer for us to have a harmonious community.”
Miller told WGN News he was watching a friend walk to her car Saturday night when everything happened nearby.
“I heard the shot, so I checked with her to see if she was okay and she said, ‘Yeah, I saw this guy. He was limping,’” Miller said.
Until the morning, he had no idea anyone had been hit by gunfire, or that it was likely the reason behind the man his friend saw limping.
A trail of blood shows the path the suspect took after he was shot, which spans nearly two blocks.
“We just kind of followed it to see where it might have led,” said another resident, Hayley.
While she is surprised, Hayley said she isn’t too worried for her safety, and she’s glad the woman and her family are physically okay.
“It’s gotta feel empowering that she’s able to protect herself and her home, so I hope she has some solace in that,” said Hayley. “It just goes to show you shouldn’t be breaking into people’s homes.”
Neighbors praised the alleged actions of the mom who took steps to protect her children.
“Good for them,” said Miller.
“I, as a card holder myself, have to be very careful as to what’s taking place in this neighborhood,” said Charles. “I can assure you that if I was in the same predicament, I would have done the exact same thing.”
The victim of the alleged attempted burglary said she is grateful for the actions of the CPD officers who responded, and while the man she said is responsible was found, the entire incident has left her feeling uneasy. She is looking for a new place to call home with her children.
“The officers were really good last night and helped us through it,” said the woman. “It was just unnerving and I’m jittery still, so. I’m just thankful we weren’t harmed last night, and they got the guy.”
Chicago police have not announced any arrests in the case. Area One Detectives are investigating.