Sunday, March 27, 2011

Shooting On Ridgeway Overnight

Good afternoon, everyone. At about 3:05am this morning, there was a shooting and arson on my block, the 2800 block of N Ridgeway. Unfortunately, but not a surprise, this isn't in the news. Nevertheless, it was a very serious incident, and I'll tell all of you what happened.

I was up on my computer, finishing something before I went to bed, when this car comes speeding down the block like a bat out of hell. I had some music on turned up a bit loud, so I didn't think anything of it. But then my mom started shouting that there was something going on because two cars had just came down the block ramming each other like crazy. I of course jumped up and ran to the window to see what was happening. I didn't see anything at that moment, but then heard a bunch of sirens coming this way. Squads and firetrucks combined. So then I looked out my other window and saw no less than 3 squad cars speeding down my block, then saw two firetrucks. I figured something serious had happened, and I was right. I turned on my scanner to hear about a white van on fire at George and Ridgeway. Apparently, whoever was in the other car, which turned out to be a sliver Nissan, set the van on fire. Obviously, CFD was on scene within seconds, as well as CPD. They responded to the corner of George and Ridgeway fast and furiously. But here's the thing. The van LEFT THE SCENE, STILL ON FIRE (presumably). Officers and firefighters could not find a burning van.

I had my friend ProdigalOne pull the 911 tapes (the dispatcher and officers talking) from this activity, and she noted that there was a call of "Shots Fired" on the block, with two to three gunshots. Several cars were reported to have been ramming each other. There were also multiple calls for a gang disturbance on the block, and at George and Ridgeway. Also, officers were calling for a stop of a vehicle with a plate of 4925368 going southbound from Belden on Springfield, likely from the Ridgeway incident.

I am absolutely outraged, and upset. I have no words to describe how I feel. It has happened. AGAIN. Can someone tell me WHY the 2800 block of Ridgeway is being targeted here?!? For God's sake. It's ALWAYS this block something like this happens on. This is why the residents of Ridgeway need to unite, NOW. We HAVE to fight this! We cannot let the thugs gain control of this block. There are too many people's lives who depend on it. We have a lot of babies and small children who live on this block, for crying out loud! They don't need this! Well, what are we going to do?? NOT just complain about it, I sincerely hope. I repeat, we need to do something RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW, before summer comes. And before a MURDER takes place on the block, because that is what will happen if we don't get vocal.

Any comments, questions, or insights? Leave them here, on the Facebook page or in my inbox.

Update: This is an e-mail I received from a faithful reader who lives in the same area: "My car was parked on the corner of Ridgeway and George. At 3am I heard a loud BANG. I knew it was my car. I woke up and ran outside and saw a white van had rammed my car so hard that his car had caught fire. They then exited the van and ran down george. They left the van. It looked like a small blue car was behind them. I thought I saw that they had guns, but was unsure. They (4 ppl) were all wearing white t-shirts. I of course was on the phone to 911 and reported the incident. Then, 911 took about 4-5 minutes to send squads. By this time, the criminals came back in that blue car, got back in the van (that was on fire) and continued to speed down George. About 1 minute later the police came and I told them they had left just a minute ago. They did not pursue them...My car is totaled and I have to pay a lot of money now to repair/buy a new car. I am also moving on Thursday and now have no car. To say I'm upset is an understatement,".

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

this is right by my house. Do you have any updates on the van or the nissan. I looked at the wreckage on the street and it looks like it was a chevy van as the grill came off. Has anyone seen a chevy astro or something like that with a missing grill?

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

As far as I know, the van was supposedly spotted fleeing south on Springfield from Belden, but that's the only thing I know. I have no info on the Nissan.

Also, could you please e-mail me? Since you live in the area, I'd like to talk to you. Nothing bad though.

americanlt said...

Maybe it's time to move? I know if I could sell my condo that I overpaid for I would. I didn't realize that the North Side had bums and gansters running the streets like Al Capone. I'm amazed by the story. The vehicle on fire somehow drove away? I guess that "no snitching" code is still on the street and that is why you will never stop the madness.

Anonymous said...

Fuck this im moving. I been in Logan for three months and its been crap, drug deals at all times of the day, shootings and ect. I knew Logan wasnt a walk in the park but its to much. Before Logan i lived in Bridgeport and Pilsen and i never had a problem or felt scared walking at night. I cant believe anyone came forward this is why the criminals keep on commiting crims they know noone will snicth.

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

americanlt, believe it or not, we have been thinking about moving because of the alarming rate of violence taking place in our area. But we don't have any money right now to move, so we're struck here for a while. And while we are, I will do what I can to make this area safer and better.

Anonymous 7:46, sorry to hear you are moving, but you are doing what is right for you. Good luck to you in whichever neighborhood you end up in.

Anonymous said...

anon 7:46 - As long as you are not a gangbanger, have common sense (ie not stumbling home drunk after a night at insert hipster joint here) you should be ok in most of Logan.

You can always move back to the suburbs or whichever state you are a transplant of...

Welcome to the big city. Stuff happens here.

paul 1732 said...

Hey Timmy, Do you know why http://www.chicagonewsreport.com/ hasn't been blogging lately?
I find both of you very informative

jethro said...

Maybe they looking for you Timmy??

Best Blog Ever said...

Apparently anonymous 10:09PM doesn't know how to read. The other anonymous commenter said they lived in Bridgeport and Pilsen before moving to Logan. Learn reading comprehension first before trying to insult someone.

That's a crazy story, Timmy. I hope your neighbors are as committed as you are to making your block much safer.

Anonymous said...

Whats your point Best Blog Ever? Are you saying the person has lived in Chicago all their life? I'll bet you any money they're a transplant from another state or the burbs. To say LS is worse than Pilsen reeks of not knowing the city.

Anonymous said...

Timmy, maybe they Are looking for you.

Anonymous said...

I moved from Ravenswood to Logan Square in 1995 and haven't regretted anything (though I'd could use less hipster bars). Sure, there's danger but that's true everywhere in the city. I saw gangs in Ravenswood too from 1992-1995. Almost saw a bar fight among 10 of them but thank god it never happened. Logan Square is a good neighborhood that can get better and better.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING - SAY SOMETHING

AvondaleLoganSquareCrimeBlotter said...

Anonymous 7:46, I can actually sort of agree with that, but that insult probably wasn't needed.

paul 1732, no, he hasn't blogged lately. I may reach out to him later this week to see if everything is ok.

jethro and anonymous 5:56, that's something to take into consideration. But you know something? Several cars were involved in this, and they were ramming each other. Clearly, they were looking for a rival gang member.

Best Blog Ever, unfortunately, most of my neighbors could care less. There are only two or three who care, but they have commitments that they have to deal with and don't have the time to be actively involved. So it's me on my own basically.

Anonymous 4:27, I agree with you about the Pilsen and Logan Square thing. Pilsen is obviously worse than Logan Square.

Anonymous 2:48, some neighborhoods have more danger than others, as we all know, and Logan Square is far more dangerous than Ravenswood. Ravenswood did have a problem back then but look at it now. It's a safe area. Logan Square is not that. It's going to take a LOT of work to improve Logan Square, and Avondale (where the danger is, sometimes more than LS). But I agree, if you see something, SAY something.