Shooting leaves man wounded, ends in crash and trail of debris; Pilsen nonprofit heavily damaged

CHICAGO — Police are searching for several suspects in an overnight shooting and crash from an incident that started on the Near West Side early Monday morning and left a trail of debris and a man wounded.

The crash also heavily damaged the front of nonprofit The Resurrection Project’s Immigrant Justice Office in the 1800 block of South Ashland Avenue in Pilsen.

According to Chicago police, the incident unfolded just before 1:45 a.m. Monday. Preliminary information reveals that an alleged altercation between people in two SUVs started near North Ashland Ave. and West Madison Street, on the Near West Side.

Police said shots were fired in the 200 block of S. Ashland Ave., several blocks south of where the altercation started. The vehicles continued traveling southbound until they reached the intersection of S. Ashland Ave. and 18th Street, more than a mile-and-a-half from where the incident is believed to have started.

At that point, they were involved in a crash, which left behind a debris trail for more than a block that included damaged vehicles, storefronts and vehicle parts scattered on the sidewalk and roadway.

Investigators on scene said the driver of a white Jeep involved in the incident allegedly hit the other vehicle, a black Jeep, before careening into the front of The Resurrection Project’s Immigrant Justice Office.

The other vehicle hit a Mexican restaurant on the opposite side of the street, traveled on the sidewalk briefly, and came to a rest near Ashland Ave. and 18th Place.

According to police, the passenger in the black Jeep, a 33-year-old man, suffered a gunshot wound to the right side of his torso. Officers on scene rendered aid, and the man was transported to Stroger Hospital in good condition. The driver was evaluated at the scene and refused transport.

Suspects in the white Jeep, meanwhile, took off running from the scene, police said. Sources tell WGN News two guns were recovered from that vehicle.

WGN News also obtained surveillance video showing the moment of impact when the suspects’ vehicle crashed into the The Resurrection Center’s Immigrant Justice Office, rendering the spot where the nonprofit typically assists families with immigration services a mess of bricks and other debris.

“Waking up on a Monday morning, being called to look at this, it was very disappointing, very sad,” Raul Raymundo, CEO of the Resurrection Project, said. “… Thankfully, this happened in the middle of the night when no staff was here. It could’ve been worse.”

Raymundo also said The Resurrection Project is grateful for the support it’s received from the neighborhood and beyond. He said it’s not clear when the location will reopen, but it will as soon as possible.

“We’ll continue to do our work,” Raymundo said. “We’re here to serve.”

In a statement the Resurrection Project said, in part, “The Resurrection Project is fully cooperating with the ongoing police investigation. We are committed to supporting law enforcement in their efforts to bring justice and ensure the safety of our community.

If you’d like to support our efforts to repair and revitalize this imperative service delivery location, please visit our donation page here . “

Officers in the area heard the initial gunshots and responded, and several people near the scene of the crash also called 911.

Detectives on scene Monday morning were seen canvassing for video cameras and other potential evidence.

The area remained open to traffic.

No one is in custody, according to police. Area Three detectives are investigating.

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