West Side shooting leaves residents helpless after 14 injured | Media Pyro

Chicago (CBS) — Two nights after a mass shooting left 14 people injured on the city’s west side, residents are angry, scared and in some cases feeling helpless.

They want to know – does anyone care? Do the police care? So how do you fix something that seems so broken?

As CBS 2’s Jermont Terry reported, a vigil was held Wednesday night at Polk Street and California Avenue in Lawndale — where the shooting happened on Halloween night. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Police Supt. David Brown attended a vigil in front of Chicago artist Myron Laban’s mural.

Using a walker, one of the 14 shooting victims on Halloween night returned to the same corner where she and her family were injured. Ms. Patterson is out of the hospital recovering from her gunshot wounds.

“I’m hurt, I’m angry. I’m disappointed that the kids have to go through this,” Patterson said, “They’re traumatized.”

The shooting happened on Halloween night at California and Polk around 9:30 p.m. A vigil and balloon release was held for a woman who died of natural causes after being shot from her car. Everything happened within seconds.

A total of 14 people were shot – including three children aged 3, 11 and 17. The 15th victim was hit by a car while trying to escape the shooting.

Patterson explained the fear it caused in everyone — but especially in children who had been shot.

“My little cousin had to go into surgery and he kept saying: ‘Mom, I don’t want to go because I’m going to die, I’m going to die,'” she said. “How to comfort? How to stop?”

Patterson raises questions on the minds of many across Chicago — especially in this West Side community. At the vigil, Lightfoot, Brown and city aldermen joined community pastors, who insisted they find the people responsible for hurting 14 members of a family and terrorizing others.

“You can run, but you can’t hide from the Chicago Police Department,” Supt. Brown said.

“If we speak up and don’t give information, we are complicit so that this family can begin to heal,” Mayor Lightfoot said.

While the support was welcome, many – including the injured – doubted the sincerity of some in the crowd.

“They’re here now because of the media, you know?” Patterson said. “Yeah, it’s all about show and tell.”

Patterson had a message for any shooters who may still be in the community.

“How can you sleep at night?” she said. “So it’s okay to go and hurt other people—to hurt children and women? When is that ever going to be okay? Will it ever be okay?”

CBS 2’s Sabrina France spoke earlier with another Patterson family relative who was shot.

“You got the kids out — the kids got shot,” she said. “Like, what makes a guy even want to come out when he sees women and children standing outside — and this is what you’re doing?”

Earlier on Wednesday, Believers and community leaders gathered in support of those who died in the shooting. She emphasized that trauma support is available.

A plea has been issued for the gunman to surrender — and police are reminding the community that a reward of up to $15,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest if anyone knows who is responsible. Anyone submitting a tip can remain anonymous.