Chicago gun violence is so bad some parents are now hiding their children to remain safe

Residents of a Chicago neighborhood say that gun violence has gotten so out of hand that they are hiding their children for safety purposes.

What are the details?

According to WBBM-TV's Chelsea Irving, neighbors became increasingly concerned after two suspects reportedly fired gunshots into a crowd of kids and young adults playing basketball on Friday.

The station reported that the suspects' bullets struck and wounded three children, ages 10, 11, and 14, as well as a 20-year-old man. Chicago police have surveillance footage of the incident, according to the outlet.

WBBM reported that a male 14-year-old — who was shot in the head — remains in the hospital and is in critical condition. Two other children were shot in the ankle and shoulder and were hospitalized, but are in "good condition." The 20-year-old remains hospitalized, but at the time of this writing, his condition is unknown.

The Lawndale neighborhood's residents are now fearing for the lives of their children, and according to Irving, are "desperate for help and want action from police, the mayor, or even the feds."

Lawndale resident Wanda Mason told WBBM, “I can’t walk the street or my grandkids, can’t walk the street because a bully might come and shoot them. It breaks my heart.”

Mason added, “It’s time for the police to walk the street like they used to. The mayor needs to come [here], bring the U.S. marshals, and let our kids play down the street like they supposed to and not being shot at.”

What did the child say?

WBBM spoke with one child who was at the shooting and said that someone yelled out a warning to run, and that's when he heard gunfire. He told the station that he tried to help friends get away as he got himself to safety, while witnessing other friends getting shot.

“I pushed a girl for a head start and she started running,” the unnamed child said. “My friend, he was running right by me and then he went across the street to check on his sister and then his sister was across the street and she got shot in her chest. Then he ran over there and he got shot in his ankle.”

WBBM reported that local residents are opting to keep their kids inside rather than have them playing in crossfire until law enforcement can crack down on the epidemic of violence plaguing Chicago's streets.

What else?

According to data compiled by the Chicago Tribune, 288 people have been killed through July 22, which is 108 fewer than 2017, and 1,607 have been shot through July 24.