Gunshots erupted at a celebration on Chicago’s south facet early Sunday, killing two folks and injuring 13 others in what authorities say was a gang-linked capturing.

Officers responded at round 4:40 a.m. to experiences of a capturing at a towing firm the place the occasion passed off, police stated. Jose Jara, a spokesperson for the division, stated in a press release that these shot have been between 20 and 44 years outdated.

Seven of the injured have been taken to hospitals in critical to vital situation, firefighter spokesman Larry Merritt informed the Chicago Solar-Occasions. Others went to hospital on their very own or have been taken away by acquaintances, making it tough to get an correct rely of the injured, authorities stated, who initially reported 10 folks had been shot however then introduced the full to 12, then 15 folks.

Crimson and black balloons and a shoe have been on the bottom outdoors the corporate shortly after the capturing, the Chicago Tribune reported. He stated a blood stain was additionally seen on the concrete.

The Tribune cited preliminary info in a police report saying the capturing could have been gang associated. A girl who had been shot within the head was discovered lifeless outdoors the constructing, and a 39-year-old man was discovered lifeless inside in a again room, in accordance with the police report. The authorities had made no arrests on Sunday afternoon.

The Cook dinner County Medical Examiner’s Workplace later recognized these killed as Rayneesha Dotson, 30, and Lionel Darling, 39. They have been pronounced lifeless at 4.55 a.m. on the scene, the medical expert’s workplace stated.

Chatting with reporters close to the scene of the capturing in Chicago’s Park Manor neighborhood, Police Commissioner David Brown stated investigators have been nonetheless on the lookout for a doable motive.

Brown stated 4 weapons have been recovered from the scene, however didn’t say whether or not investigators believed multiple particular person fired.

“We’ve loads of work to do,” stated Brown. “The detectives are simply getting began.”

A bar had been arrange in a storage connected to the enterprise for what Brown described as a “pop-up occasion.”

“We do not know what the celebration was related to this vacation at this level, we’re nonetheless attempting to comply with up on leads on what that motif could be,” Brown stated.

Greater than 760 folks have been killed in Chicago in 2020, one of many metropolis’s highest murder totals in 20 years. Police blamed lots of the murders on rival gang disputes.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot known as the capturing “outrageous” in a collection of Twitter posts on Sunday, urging those that witnessed it to come back ahead and inform police what they noticed. She added that “the folks on the market, the folks studying this, know who pulled the set off final night time.”

“For the moms who won’t ever hear their kid’s voice once more and the youngsters who will develop up with out a mother or father, I urge you to help our metropolis on this investigation in order that justice is served and our households can emerge from this tragic and heartbreaking loss. “Mentioned Lightfoot.