Shooting injures 7 at gathering near church, IL cops say. ‘This is personal’
Several people were hospitalized after a gunman opened fire on a late-night gathering across the street from a Catholic school, Illinois police said.
Seven males between the ages of 17 and 19 were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds on May 31, Chicago police said.
One is in serious condition with gunshot wounds to the chest and leg, while the other six are in fair condition, police said.
“I am angry. I’m disgusted. I’m hurt, and I’m mad,” St. Sabina senior pastor the Rev. Michael Pfleger said in a video.
Police were dispersing the crowd of young people when a person driving by shot at the group just “steps away” from St. Sabina Catholic Church on the city’s South Side, police and Pfleger said.
The pastor, whose church is two weeks away from hosting a peace rally in the community, is offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of those involved in the drive-by shooting.
“This is personal to me,” he said in a video. He added, “I want the people in that car caught. I want them in jail.”
Pfleger’s message to the community acknowledged gun violence in the community.
In a video, Pfleger said it is parents’ responsibility to know where their children are and keep them safe.
He also left a message for young people, telling them they are “too valuable” to put their lives at risk.
“And stop carrying around all these guns,” he said. “When are we going to wake up from this damn gun culture?”
Police said no one is in custody and detectives are investigating.
This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 10:39 AM with the headline "Shooting injures 7 at gathering near church, IL cops say. ‘This is personal’."
