17-year-old charged with shooting at crowd in Oz Park, wounding a boy, also 17Sun-Times Wireon June 9, 2021 at 10:58 am

The shooting last week sparked a community meeting where neighbors demanded more safety measures at the North Side park.

A 17-year-old boy has been charged with shooting into a crowd of people last week in Oz Park and wounding a teenager.

The boy opened fire in the park in the 2000 block of North Burling Street about 7:30 p.m. June 1, Chicago police said. A boy, also 17, suffered a graze wound, according to police.

The shooter was found nearby in the 900 block of West Armitage Avenue and taken into custody, police said. A Smith & Wesson handgun was also recovered, according to police.

The boy faces aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm, police said.

Days after the shooting, neighbors gathered in Oz Park Friday to demand police and city officials do more to increase public safety in the area.

During the meeting, residents told Ald. Michele Smith (43rd) and 18th District police officers they’ve had concerns for years and complained of groups of minors drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana in the park.

The Chicago Police Department said it would add more foot patrols and surveillance cameras in the area.

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