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Teen boy shot, 12-year-old girl cut by broken glass in Rogers Park shootingSun-Times Wireon May 23, 2021 at 4:03 am

A 16-year-old boy was shot and a girl 12, were hurt in a shooting May 22, 2021 in Rogers Park.
A 16-year-old boy was shot and a girl 12, were hurt in a shooting May 22, 2021 in Rogers Park. | Archivo Sun-Times

The 16-year-old boy was shot Saturday in the 2000 block of West Touhy Avenue.

A teenage boy was shot and a 12-year-old girl was hurt by glass when gunfire erupted Saturday night in the Rogers Park neighborhood.

They were in the front yard of a home about 9:05 p.m. in the 2000 block of West Touhy Avenue when a dark-colored vehicle pulled up and someone inside fired shots, Chicago police said.

The 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg and taken to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was listed in good condition, police said. The girl suffered cuts to her arm from broken glass and was taken to the same hospital.

No one is in custody as Area Three detectives investigate.

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Teen boy shot, 12-year-old girl cut by broken glass in Rogers Park shootingSun-Times Wireon May 23, 2021 at 4:03 am Read More »

24 shot, 7 fatally, since Friday night in ChicagoSun-Times Wireon May 23, 2021 at 3:30 am

At least 24 people have been shot, 7 fatally, since 5 p.m. Friday.
At least 24 people have been shot, 7 fatally, since 5 p.m. Friday. | Archive Sun-Times

There have been two double homicides reported on the West Side since 5 p.m. Friday.

At least 24 people have been shot, seven fatally, since Friday night in Chicago, including a 15-year-old boy killed in Lawndale on the West Side.

About 11:50 p.m. Friday, Dajon Gater was on a front porch in the 3900 block of West Lexington Street when two males approached and began firing shots at him, according to Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

He suffered a gunshot wound to the head was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, police said.

On Saturday night, a man was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in Washington Park.

The trio were standing on the sidewalk about 7:30 p.m. in the 5500 block of South Michigan Avenue when people inside a gray Jeep and blue Acura opened fire, Chicago police said.

A 46-year-old man was shot in the back and was taken to the University of Chicago, where he was pronounced dead, police said. His name hasn’t been released.

Another man, 30, was shot in the head and was also transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, police said. A third man, 50, was struck in the arm and was taken to the same hospital in good condition.

Early Saturday morning, two people were killed in a shooting in West Garfield Park.

The men were standing outside about 2 a.m. in the 4000 block of West Wilcox Street when someone approached them on foot and fired shots, police said.

One man, 24, suffered gunshot wounds to the head, neck, chest and leg, police said. He was transported to Loretto Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

The second man, 28, was struck in the chest, torso and arm, according to police. He was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was also pronounced dead, police said.

Hours earlier, a man was fatally shot on the Eisenhower Expressway on the West Side.

The 27-year-old was westbound on Interstate 290 about 12:07 a.m. on the ramp to Austin Boulevard when someone fired shots from another vehicle, Illinois State Police said.

The man was pronounced dead at a hospital, state police said.

Friday night, two people were fatally shot following an incident at an East Garfield Park convenience store Friday night.

About 10:25 p.m., a male was in an argument with a 23-year-old woman in the 500 block of North Kedzie Avenue when he began shooting at her and an 18-year-old man she was with, police said.

The woman suffered a gunshot wound to the torso and was transported to Stroger Hospital where she was pronounced dead, police said. She was identified as Destiny Nunez of Aurora.

The man was struck multiple times in the torso and leg and transported to Norwegian Hospital where he was pronounced, police said. He has not yet been identified.

The incident began in a convenience store and ended in the parking lot, according to police.

At least 13 other people have been wounded in shootings since 5 p.m. Friday.

Last weekend, 48 people were shot citywide, including a 2-year-old girl, a 13-year-old boy and two Chicago police officers.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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24 shot, 7 fatally, since Friday night in ChicagoSun-Times Wireon May 23, 2021 at 3:30 am Read More »

Cubs’ rotation beginning to hold up their end of the deal as May success continuesRussell Dorseyon May 23, 2021 at 3:13 am

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

The Cubs’ rotation struggled mightily last month, but things are starting to come together in May and the results are backing it up.

ST. LOUIS — The month of May has been important in the Cubs’ effort to find their identity as a team. No group was more in need of that identity check after the first month of the season than the team’s starting rotation.

The Cubs’ starters struggles to find their rhythm forced them to lean heavily on the bullpen and until May 4, hadn’t had a starter record an out in the seventh inning.

While the team’s relief core was highly successful, having a bullpen carrying that workload isn’t sustainable over 162 games, no matter how good they are.

“I think that the starting pitching has struggled early in the year — there’s no doubt about that,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said. “We haven’t pitched well enough in the rotation. We haven’t gotten deep enough in games. The bullpen has really sort of kept us afloat in that regard.”

It seems the rotation has gotten the message loud and clear as they’ve looked much more like the cohesive staff that Hoyer and the Cubs envisioned spring training in May and has begun to take some of the pressure off both the offense and the bullpen.

“I think they’re getting back to finding their rhythm and I think that is important, for sure,” manager David Ross said.

The Cubs’ rotation has been led by Jake Arrieta, who has not only pitched well, but carried the group through the month of April, allowing three earned runs or less in six of his eight starts.

After Arrieta, the next best Cubs starting pitcher has been young righty Adbert Alzolay, who continued his strong first half in Saturday’s 2-1 loss by tossing a career-high seven innings while allowing just two earned runs.

Alzolay’s transition from prospect into a major-league starter has been one of the best developments the Cubs have had this season and with each start, he’s flashed what may be top of the rotation stuff.

“I feel that now that we’re getting into that rhythm, it just brings more confidence to everyone in the starting rotation,” Alzolay said. “Just watching the game last night and watching Kyle going about his business the way he was competing. You start getting fired up to go out and do the same thing.”

But where the Cubs have needed significant improvement was from right-handers Kyle Hendricks and Zach Davies, who ironically have been two of the most consistent pitchers in baseball over the last five seasons. Both were horrendous in April with a combined 8.49 ERA over 41 2/3 innings.

Hendricks has found his old form and after throwing 6 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Friday’s win, he has gone at least 6 2/3 innings in three of his four May starts. Davies has also looked like himself with a 2.11 ERA

“I want to be that guy that my team can rely on,” Hendricks said. “They know what they’re going to get when I take the ball out there that day. . . . Today was another step in the right direction.”

There is little margin for error with the Cubs’ rotation with some of the group’s similar characteristics and last month showed how small that margin really is, especially when they aren’t pitching like expected.

Things could have gone off the tracks for veteran group, but they’ve gone from having to two guys carry the load to now the group starting to pitch well together and with the recent surge in offense, the Cubs’ success has followed.

“I think we have a lot of veteran starters outside Adbert that understand how the season goes,” Ross said. “You’re going to have some good starts, you’re going to have some bad ones. They didn’t get off to their best start, but I think they know they’re going to have better days. They trust in their track record. I trust in their track record that each start they’ve got a chance to go as deep as they want.”

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Cubs’ rotation beginning to hold up their end of the deal as May success continuesRussell Dorseyon May 23, 2021 at 3:13 am Read More »

Jake Marisnick, Jason Heyward making progress from hamstring strainsRussell Dorseyon May 23, 2021 at 1:56 am

AP Photo/Paul Beaty

Marisnick would likely need to go on a rehab assignment before his return while Heyward’s time on the IL may be brief.

ST. LOUIS – Outfielders Jake Marisnick and Jason Heyward are trending in the right direction in their efforts to return from the 10-day injured list. While it remains to be seen when they’ll return, both have begun to increase their baseball activities.

Marisnick has been on the IL with a right hamstring strain since May 11 and is currently building up in his progression. The Cubs’ center fielder had a more moderate strain, requiring a little more time on the shelf.

Heyward, who went on the IL on Thursday with a left hamstring strain, has started doing light agility work with the training staff and may be back sooner rather than later if things continue to progress positively.

While Heyward might not need a rehab assignment before returning, he did think Marisnick could use a few at-bats before returning.

“I don’t think anytime immediate,” Ross said. “I talked to J-Hey, he said it went well today. Talked to the trainers, they said it went well today. They’ll continue to progress in that kind of rehab mode and then. … Maybe 10 days isn’t a huge stretch to get your timing and all that. But if it extends days past that you’re going to.

“Right now, Marisnick for sure at some point will probably need to take some kind of rehab assignment. J-Hey depending on if this thing continues to bounce back very fast, we may just activate him when he’s ready. So I’ll talk to him about that and trainers, but I don’t want to put any [definitive] timelines on those guys.”

Right-hander Alec Mills will make a rehab start for Class AAA Iowa on Sunday as he returns from a lower back strain that has kept him out since April 30. Right-hander Trevor Megill (right forearm strain) will throw a live BP in Iowa.

Adam undergoes left ankle surgery

Cubs right-hander Jason Adam underwent successful surgery to repair a compound left-ankle dislocation on Friday. Adam was fielding fly balls during batting practice for Class AAA Iowa when the accident occurred and an ambulance had to be called to tend to the reliever.

With the severity of the injury, Adam’s season is likely over and there’s no timetable for his return to baseball activities. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2-1 with a 5.06 ERA in 22 games since signing before the 2020 season.

“Pretty intense,” Ross said. “Our thoughts and prayers go to him and hopefully a speedy recovery. I texted him and he said it’s all gonna work out. He’s in good spirits, but we’re definitely thinking about him. That was some terrible news to receive yesterday.

“The story I heard was that he jumped for a ball and came down funny on his ankle during batting practice.”

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Jake Marisnick, Jason Heyward making progress from hamstring strainsRussell Dorseyon May 23, 2021 at 1:56 am Read More »

3 shot, 1 fatally, in Washington Park: policeSun-Times Wireon May 23, 2021 at 2:12 am

Three men were shot May 22, 2021 in Washington Park.
Three men were shot May 22, 2021 in Washington Park. | Sun-Times file photo

A man was killed and two others wounded in a shooting Saturday in the 5500 block of South Michigan Avenue.

A man was killed and two others were wounded in a shooting Saturday night in Washington Park on the South Side.

The trio were standing on the sidewalk about 7:30 p.m. in the 5500 block of South Michigan Avenue when people inside a gray Jeep and blue Acura opened fire, Chicago police said.

A 46-year-old man was shot in the back and was taken to the University of Chicago, where he was pronounced dead, police said. His name hasn’t been released.

Another man, 30, was shot in the head and was also transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, police said.

A third man, 50, was struck in the arm and was taken to the same hospital in good condition, according to police.

No one is in custody as Area One detectives investigate.

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3 shot, 1 fatally, in Washington Park: policeSun-Times Wireon May 23, 2021 at 2:12 am Read More »

Man critically hurt in Stevenson Expressway shootingon May 22, 2021 at 11:54 pm

A 35-year-old man was critically wounded in a shooting Saturday on the Stevenson Expressway in Chicago.

The man was traveling in a vehicle about 5 p.m. on Interstate 55 near Kedzie Avenue when someone fired shots, according to Illinois State Police and Chicago Fire officials.

He pulled over near the exit ramp at Pulaski Road and was taken to Mount Sinai in critical condition, fire officials said.

Details on the shooting were not immediately available, state police said.

All southbound lanes were shut down about 6:30 p.m. for the investigation, state police said.

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Man critically hurt in Stevenson Expressway shootingon May 22, 2021 at 11:54 pm Read More »

Phil Mickelson leads PGA Championship by one shot after three roundson May 23, 2021 at 12:07 am

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Phil Mickelson survived a wild ride Saturday at Kiawah Island with a 2-under 70 in the PGA Championship that left him 18 holes away from becoming golf’s oldest champion.

The 50-year-old Mickelson walked off the 10th green with a five-shot lead and such amazing control of his game that it was shaping up to be another runaway on the Ocean Course.

Far from it.

Mickelson hit one tee shot into the water and another under the tire of a cart. Brooks Koepka rattled off three birdies to tie him for the lead.

The difference was the closing hole at Kiawah, easier as the wind shifted from being in the players’ faces to coming from right-to-left off the Atlantic Ocean. Koepka, in the group ahead, went just long and took three putts for a bogey and a 70.

Mickelson went well long and played a flop shot, a risky shot to most everyone but him, and nearly jarred it. He curled in the 4-foot par putt to become the oldest player with a 54-hole lead in a major since 59-year-old Tom Watson at Turnberry in 2009.

That didn’t end well for Watson, who lost that British Open in a playoff to Stewart Cink. For Mickelson, it’s an opportunity to become the oldest player to win a major. Julius Boros was 48 when he won the 1968 PGA Championship.

Mickelson was at 7-under 209. For all his success in the majors — five victories, runner-up finishes in all four of them — this is only the third time he has held the 54-hole lead.

He will play in the final group with Koepka, a twosome with nine majors among them. Koepka will be going for his third Wanamaker Trophy in the last four years.

Koepka, shaking off effects from ligament surgery on his right knee that has limited him to two tournaments in three months before arriving at Kiawah, called the third round his worst performance of his career.

Louis Oostuizen knows the feeling. He started the third round tied with Mickelson and had a long three-putt bogey. The South African never caught up, though he had his chances until missing a 4-foot birdie putt on the par-5 16th and a 5-foot par putt on the par-3 17th. He wound up with a 72 and was two shots behind.

At least they have a chance.

Mickelson broke away quickly with four birdies in seven holes, and he even managed to avoid losing his focus. One distraction came from the fourth fairway, when Mickelson saw a drone in the air left of the green and said to a CBS spotter, “Can you radio to the TV guys to get the drone out of the flight of my shot?” He saved par from a back bunker.

He went out in 32 — Mickelson played the front nine on Friday in 31 — and was five shots clear until he showed signs of sputtering. He badly missed a 7-foot birdie attempt on No. 11. He pulled his tee shot into a bunker on No. 12 and had to play back to the fairway, leading to his first bogey of the round.

And then he drove into the water on the 13th with his 2-wood, had to hit his third shot from the tee because of where he thought it crossed the hazard line, and missed a 12-footer for bogey. Oosthuizen also found the water with a big fade, dropped further up the fairway and made bogey.

“Mine was on the edge,” Mickelson said on why he hit again from the tee. “I just didn’t feel good about it.”

It was tight the rest of the way. Mickelson is going after his first major since the 2013 British Open, and the final hour made it clear that this might not be easy.

But it will be loud. The gallery is the largest at a major since the pandemic — the PGA of America has said there would be 10,000 people, a number that felt far greater — and Mickelson was the object of their raucous shouting.

Kevin Streelman bogeyed the 18th for a 70 and was alone in fourth at 4-under 212, followed by Branden Grace and Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa, each with a 72.

Jordan Spieth matched the low round of the day with a 68, still seven shots behind and most likely too far back to contend with a dozen players ahead of him.

Spieth was headed back to his rental home to flip on the TV, a rarity for him.

But it’s Phil. It’s theater.

“I don’t watch golf but I promise you I’m going to turn it on to watch him today,” Spieth said. “It’s pretty incredible. I have no way to relate to it, right? But I also don’t think it’s necessarily that special because didn’t he win a World Golf Championships in the last couple years?

“The guy’s got four good rounds on any golf course in him, and no one would bet against that.”

Mickelson has had three good ones at Kiawah Island.

One more for history.

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Phil Mickelson leads PGA Championship by one shot after three roundson May 23, 2021 at 12:07 am Read More »

2-year-old girl home after being shot near Little Village courthouse: ‘I have nightmares for my daughter’Mitchell Armentrouton May 22, 2021 at 10:19 pm

Angelina Rodgriguez is held by her mother Perla Rodgriguez Saturday outside their West Side home.
Angelina Rodgriguez is held by her mother Perla Rodgriguez Saturday outside their West Side home. | Mitchell Armentrout/Sun-Times

Angelina Rodriguez is still bandaged but expected to make a full recovery after being wounded in a drive-by attack last week.

Angelina Rodriguez’s bandaged leg will heal. Years from now, the toddler might not even remember the shooting.

But her mother won’t forget.

“It’s been a constant struggle. I have nightmares for my daughter,” Perla Rodriguez said with her 2-year-old girl in her arms at their West Side home, a week after the drive-by attack that unfolded steps away from the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.

“She’s autistic on top of it, so it’s really hard because she can’t tell me what she’s feeling, or if she’s in pain. But overall, she’s been smiling, so I’m just glad she’s okay,” the young mother said.

Angelina was indeed all smiles Saturday as some of the 10th District Chicago police officers who helped track down two men accused in the shooting delivered toys for the girl and her 9-month old sister, who was also in the SUV with their parents when the gunfire erupted May 14 at 26th Street and California Boulevard.

Two of the men allegedly responsible for wounding Angelina were jailed without bail Friday on charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery. Police are searching for at least one more person in connection with the attack.

Authorities say the men thought they were shooting at rival gang members when they opened fire.

“We were just driving here to my house and they pulled up along. Nothing was said, nothing was thrown up at us, nothing. They just started shooting at us and my daughter got hit,” said Perla Rodriguez, who was at the wheel and sped straight to Mount Sinai Hospital.

“I had to take even a one-way street because I was just panicking and I just wanted to get my baby — I didn’t know where she was bleeding, and I was scared. I was scared for her,” she said.

Fortunately, the bullet that entered Angelina’s little leg didn’t cause any structural damage. She’s expected to make a full recovery.

“It’s been a miracle,” her mother said. “She’s good. She’s in some pain. She tries to walk, but it hurts her. She’s recovering, though.”

In the meantime, Angelina has plenty of new “Little Mermaid” toys — her favorite — to keep her busy.

Angelina was the youngest of 48 people shot across the city last weekend, the most violent one yet in 2021.

She’s among nine children younger than 13 have been hit by gunfire in Chicago so far this year, according to records kept by the Chicago Sun-Times. A 15-year-old boy was murdered in Lawndale late Friday.

“These babies need to be able to enjoy life the regular way,” said Marvin Edwards of the anti-gang violence group 100 Men Standing. “We asked them — all in the city that don’t have a heart — put the damn guns down.”

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2-year-old girl home after being shot near Little Village courthouse: ‘I have nightmares for my daughter’Mitchell Armentrouton May 22, 2021 at 10:19 pm Read More »