Two women killed, three children seriously injured in South Side shooting

Two women were killed and three young boys were left in critical condition Thursday morning when multiple shooters opened fire at a home in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood on the South Side, Chicago police said.

Around 6:15 a.m., officers responding to a ShotSpotter gunshot alert and 911 calls found the women, ages 42 and 24, and the children — ages 5 to 8 — all injured inside the home in the 7100 block of South Woodlawn, according to CPD Deputy Chief Don Jerome.

Officers provided first aid, but Nakeeshia Strong, 42, died at the scene, Jerome said at a news conference near the scene.

Capri Edwards, 24, died at the University of Chicago Medical Center, the Cook County medical examiner's office said.

The boys were taken to Comer Children's Hospital in critical condition. Police said they were 5, 7 and 8 years old, but a relative said one of the boys was 6.

The family member told the Sun-Times he was inside the home at the time of the shooting, identifying his mother, brother and cousins ​​among the victims.

“I heard popping noises and I came out of my room and saw my 6-year-old brother with gunshot wounds on his body,” said the relative, who declined to share his name.

“I go out into the front room and [my cousin is] “He was lying there and not even responding,” he said. “My mother was face down on the floor and my little brother was in my mother’s room fighting for his life.”

A preliminary investigation suggested that two vehicles pulled up to the house, several shooters got out and fired shots into the house, Jerome said, adding that it may have stemmed from a personal dispute.

Shotgun and handgun shell casings were found at the scene, Jerome said. Investigators reviewed surveillance video and ran possible license plate numbers of vehicles seen speeding toward the scene.

No one was in custody.

Hours after the mass shooting, police investigated as family members, violence prevention workers and neighbors gathered in the neighborhood.

Strong's son, Frank Mixon, 19, said he was “lost in his emotions,” calling her “the love of my life, for sure.”

“She was an incredible woman. No one showed me how to be successful and work hard like she did,” Mixon said, across the street from the shooting.

Mixon said he and his mother had spent time a few days earlier talking about his college basketball career.

“It's just a setback, a major setback for me, but if my mother were here, she would tell me the same thing: 'Take it and move on.'”

Police said it was unclear who was targeted in the attack.

Assemblyman Desmon Yancy (5th) said the neighborhood around the block is “a relatively quiet community and not really used to this kind of violence.”

“Personal conflict and guns don’t mix,” Yancy said. “My heart bleeds for this community.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson said his office will coordinate with police and Yancy to provide resources to the victims' families and friends.

“On behalf of the City of Chicago, we extend our deepest condolences to the families and community of Grand Crossing who are grieving the lives lost in this morning’s shooting,” Johnson said in a statement. “We will continue to coordinate with our partners at the Chicago Police Department, 5th Ward Councilman Desmon Yancy, and victim services partners to support this community as they heal from this tragic incident.”

Police have asked anyone with information to submit tips anonymously to CPDtip.com.

The shooting capped a brutal start to the July 4 weekend, in which at least five other people were injured in separate attacks across the city.

Contribution: Cindy Hernandez