The Blackhawks still need to figure out how they’ll look when the regular season starts. | Getty

Wyatt Kalynuk’s ankle injury and Brett Connolly’s placement on waivers Tuesday are the latest wrinkles in the Hawks’ complicated roster battles.

One week from Wednesday, the Blackhawks will begin their 2021-22 regular season.

But even as training camp enters its final week, the Hawks have 45 players technically still in camp and many decisions to make regarding their opening-night roster. And two news items Tuesday — one planned, one not — added even more intrigue.

Young defenseman Wyatt Kalynuk left practice early after injuring his ankle, and coach Jeremy Colliton said he could miss “weeks” as a result — “You feel for him, for sure,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Hawks placed forward Brett Connolly on waivers, hoping to assign him to Rockford and reduce his cap hit from $3.5 to $2.375 million. In the unlikely event he gets claimed, the Hawks will free up even more space.

“[Connolly] came into camp very prepared and in excellent shape, and he’s had a couple of good games,” Colliton said. “The issue is we’ve had some really good performances from some other players, particularly young guys, and that’s part of the business sometimes.”

Removing Kalynuk (at least temporarily) and Connolly from the equation leaves the Hawks with interesting roster battles among both forwards and defensemen. Only the goalies — Marc-Andre Fleury and Kevin Lankinen — are obvious.

Forwards

Seven forwards — Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Tyler Johnson, Dominik Kubalik, Philipp Kurashev, Kirby Dach and Brandon Hagel — are guaranteed to play opening night.

All indications are Jonathan Toews remains on track to do so, too, although Colliton has repeatedly declined to handicap the odds of that. Ryan Carpenter and Jujhar Khaira will almost certainly also make the team.

That leaves two spots in the lineup and three or four spots on the roster up for grabs. Colliton hasn’t yet decided whether to keep 14 forwards and seven defensemen or 13 and eight, respectively.

Eight players — Henrik Borgstrom, Adam Gaudette, Dylan Strome, MacKenzie Entwistle, Mike Hardman, Alex Nylander, Lukas Reichel and Reese Johnson — are competing for those forward spots, with their individual likelihoods of making it roughly ranked in that order.

Waivers will affect things: Borgstrom, Gaudette, Strome and Nylander would need to clear them to be sent to the AHL, whereas Entwistle, Hardman, Reese Johnson and Reichel wouldn’t.

Nylander and Reichel practiced with the de facto “AHL group” Tuesday, so the Hawks might be resigned to taking that risk with Nylander. Strome remains buried in Colliton’s doghouse, but the Hawks wouldn’t dare waive him — if anything, he’s trade bait.

Borgstrom and Entwistle entered camp with 50-50 and longshot odds, respectively, but both have greatly impressed and raised their stock. Borgstrom scored a goal Saturday and Entwistle, this year’s unequivocal camp darling (a la Dennis Gilbert in 2019), scored twice Monday.

Gaudette has impressed in camp, too, although that’s less surprising given his prior NHL experience in Vancouver and his transformative offseason.

Defensemen

Entering Tuesday, the Hawks’ seven-man unit of Seth Jones, Connor Murphy, Jake McCabe, Calvin de Haan, Riley Stillman, Caleb Jones and Kalynuk seemed virtually cemented. But with Kalynuk now likely to miss the first road trip, the door swings open.

Jakub Galvas, a 22-year-old prospect with five years of European pro experience, was the eighth defenseman with the top practice group Tuesday. Colliton has raved about Galvas, who was largely unknown before now. The idea he could make the team seems less shocking by the day.

Ian Mitchell, conversely, had accepted he’d probably start this season in the AHL, but he might make more sense to replace Kalynuk in the NHL lineup because he’s a right-handed shot. And if the Hawks want a more physical right-handed presence, they could keep Alec Regula instead.

The Hawks do have two preseason games left — Thursday and Saturday against the Wild — to figure everything out.

“It’s exciting,” Colliton said. “We have some competition. I don’t know how it’s going to play out. [But] it’s fun to be in this situation.”

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A man was shot and seriously wounded Tuesday afternoon on the Southwest Side. | Sun-Times file photo

The 21-year-old was inside a vehicle about 3:45 p.m. in the 4400 block of West 55th Street when he was struck by gunfire, police said.

A man was shot and seriously wounded Tuesday afternoon in West Elsdon on the Southwest Side.

The 21-year-old was inside a vehicle about 3:45 p.m. in the 4400 block of West 55th Street when he was struck in the arm, chest and leg, Chicago police said.

He was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where he was in serious condition, police said.

No one was in custody.

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Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx speaks to reporters during a news conference at Hope Manor II in Englewood on the South Side, Tuesday morning, Oct. 5, 2021. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Lightfoot told reporters Tuesday that she had referred the case to U.S. Attorney John Lausch, the latest escalation in a simmering conflict between the mayor and the county’s top prosecutor.

Facing heavy criticism after her office rejected charges against five suspects in a deadly shootout in Austin, Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx on Tuesday slammed Mayor Lori Lightfoot for raising alarms about the case and said the mayor had her facts wrong.

But a short time later, Lightfoot brushed off Foxx’s claims and announced that she’d effectively circumvented her by asking U.S. Attorney John Lausch to review the evidence in the gang-related gunfight Friday morning in Austin that left one shooter dead and two suspects wounded.

“I’ve also reached out to the U.S. attorney to ask him to also evaluate the evidence that was there to see if there’s a possibility for federal charges,” Lightfoot told reporters.

The dueling press conferences reveal the stark division between Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor herself, and the county’s top law enforcement official over what evidence is needed to prosecute the suspects Chicago police had hoped Foxx would charge with first-degree murder and aggravated battery.

“Whatever evidence that needs to be gathered, the police department is going to be Johnny on the spot and make sure we get it,” Lightfoot after she appeared in Pilsen with U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge at an unrelated event. “But this is, to me, a very compelling case.”

Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
People sit on the street near the 1200 block of North Mason Avenue in the Austin neighborhood, where a person was fatally shot and two were injured, Friday morning, Oct. 1, 2021.

On Tuesday morning, Foxx had told reporters that it was “wrong” for Lightfoot to publicly discuss details of the high-profile case, alleging that some of the mayor’s previous statements about the evidence “simply weren’t true.”

“I was quite honestly mortified by what happened yesterday, particularly because the mayor as a former prosecutor knows that what she did yesterday was inappropriate,” Foxx said during her news conference in Englewood.

The rebuke came after Lightfoot and five West Side City Council members voiced concerns Monday about the blanket rejection in the case and urged Foxx to at least reconsider charging two of the alleged instigators.

Though Foxx wouldn’t say what she believes Lightfoot got wrong, she noted that Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan conceded during a budget hearing Monday that the evidence was insufficient to bring the charges against the five members of warring factions of the Four Corner Hustlers street gang.

Deenihan also acknowledged that police video footage doesn’t clearly show some of the shooters, and that none of those arrested were willing to cooperate with investigators. Asked about those comments Tuesday, Lightfoot said she planned to speak to Deenihan directly and insisted that his boss, Supt. David Brown, “does not agree with a no charging decision.”

The state’s attorney’s office previously told the Sun-Times that the “evidence was insufficient to meet our burden of proof to approve felony charges,” but Lightfoot contested that claim as she appeared to reference police POD camera footage that captured the shooting.

The footage, which has circulated online, appears to show two people firing shots next to two waiting Dodge Chargers. When a police cruiser pulls up, one of the shooters jumps into one of the waiting cars, while the other is left lying in the street.

Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times
Mayor Lori Lightfoot responds to questions regarding Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx at Concordia Place Apartments in Eden Green, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021.

Lightfoot noted that two suspects were ultimately found with guns “used in that firefight,” a claim backed up with a law enforcement source with direct knowledge of the investigation. She said investigators have also collected body-worn camera and dashcam video from officers in Chicago and Oak Park, where the source said one of the suspects was apprehended after crashing one of the Chargers.

Deenihan said he thought prosecutors could pursue lesser charges against at least some of the suspects, though Foxx noted that cops haven’t sought any other charges. While she has refused to discuss the evidence related to the ongoing investigation, Foxx said her office needs a victim, a witness or someone else to tie a suspect to a crime, even if it’s caught on video.

“In order for us to bring charges in a case, it’s not simply, we saw a video of something happening,” Foxx said. “We need to be able to say that the person who we have arrested and charged is the same person who engaged in the act.”

Lightfoot conceded “there are circumstances when we absolutely need to have a witness to identify who did something,” but she noted this shootout was captured on “multiple videotapes” as she questioned why no charges — even disturbing the peace — were filed in connection to the shootout.

“We cannot send a message that it is OK and you get a pass that you shoot up a residence in broad daylight, captured on film, and no consequences will happen to you,” she said. “That can’t be a world that we live in.”

Whether the feds will get involved is unclear. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment late Tuesday.

Foxx: ‘This isn’t me pointing fingers’

Amid the dispute, Foxx made a public request to meet with Lightfoot, Brown and Area 5 police leaders to address her concerns about recent investigations and information that has been leaked to the media.

Lightfoot later confirmed that she and Foxx would meet. Police spokesmen didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Police officials in Area 5, which investigates crimes in parts of the West, North and Northwest sides, had already been at odds with the state’s attorney’s office over other high-profile cases prosecutors refused to take up, including the fatal shootings of National Guard member Chrys Carjaval in July and 7-year-old Serenity Broughton in August. Foxx apparently referenced those cases when she insisted it wasn’t part of her job to “try cases in the media, nor to play politics on the deaths of children and veterans and people in our community.”

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx speaks to reporters during a news conference at Hope Manor II in Englewood on the South Side, Tuesday morning, Oct. 5, 2021.

“We would expect that our partners, especially those who served as prosecutors, would recognize that,” said Foxx, taking a not-so-veiled shot at Lightfoot. “And more importantly, if engaging in that, [they] would tell the truth. Tell the truth.”

Facing renewed criticism that she’s week on crime, Foxx also apparently sought to deflect some of the blame back onto the police department amid the city’s continued surge in violence. Of the 13,374 citywide shootings that have occurred since she took office in 2016, Foxx told reporters, police have made arrests in just 2,447 of them.

“This isn’t me pointing fingers. … This isn’t me playing the victim,” she insisted. “This is us in the state’s attorney’s office wanting to work with our law enforcement partners because when we know we have that many unsolved shootings there is a sense that people can get away with murder with impunity, and that makes our communities less safe.”

Contributing: Cheyanne Daniels

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Allen Robinson dominated in the passing game for the the Bears the last two seasons, but has just 24 targets in the first four games of 2021. | Nam Y. Huh/AP

Robinson has only 24 targets in four games but is showing signs of a connection with Fields. That could pay off enormously for the Bears.

One of the best things Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields has going for him as he finds his way is veteran wide receiver Allen Robinson, who can put up a 1,000-yard season with just about anybody.

Robinson’s reliability as a route runner and opportunistic thinking downfield give Fields a safety valve if he’s under pressure and the freedom to take deep shots, as he did when he bypassed a safe dump-off to Damien Williams in favor of a 27-yard throw to Robinson on the sideline late in the third quarter of the win over the Lions.

Robinson lined up on the right, veered to the middle of the field, then broke right at the perfect time to give Fields a narrow window behind cornerback Amani Oruwariye and in front of safety Will Harris. Fields hit him with precision, and Robinson secured the gain with an expert toe tap.

“He trusts his teammates,” Robinson said of Fields. “He kind of came to me after like, ‘You ain’t think I was gonna throw it, did you?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, I saw you.’

“I felt the play. It was the perfect sense of as I’m going through the route, [knowing] that he might be coming to me. So that’s also fun hearing him say that… My thing is just to be where I need to be when I need to be there.”

Fields threw to Robinson just three times out of his 17 passes, but there were signs that the two are developing a connection. Fields didn’t work much with Robinson, Darnell Mooney and the other first-string skill players during the off season because they took the majority of their reps with Andy Dalton, but Fields has had his turn while Dalton deals with a knee injury.

He seems to already have something going with Mooney, who rolled to a career-high 125 yards on five catches against the Lions, but Robinson has been underutilized. The Bears targeted him 11 times while running a dink-and-dunk offense against the Rams in the opener, then four, six and three over the next three games.

Robinson has 13 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown, and those numbers put him on track for about half the catches and yardage he put up the last two seasons.

Beyond that being an untapped resource for a Bears team that ranks 30th in points and 32nd yardage, it’s certainly a frustrating start to the season for Robinson in a contract year. He wanted to either sign a big extension or test the market last spring after piling up 1,250 yards and six touchdowns on 102 catches, but the Bears opted to use the franchise tag on him at $18 million.

His agent, Brandon Parker, aired his annoyance on Twitter, but Robinson hasn’t so much as hinted at being upset. He said targets are outside his control and he’s not the type to demand the ball, adding that what’s best for him statistically might not always be what’s best for the team.

“I want to be able to be as productive as possible — for the sake of the offense, the sake of this team,” Robinson said. “That’s the main thing. It’s not really being frustrated with things, people, or anything like that, but maybe based on not being able to contribute how you may want to.

“We obviously want to be better. … The frustration lies across the board, which I think is a good thing. … With frustration comes correction.”

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Maestro Riccardo Muti conducts the Vienna Philharmonic, in Beethoven’s Missa solemnis at the the August 2021 Salzburg Festival. | (C) SF / Marco Borrelli

While he and the CSO were separated by an ocean and a pandemic for over a year, Muti says they remained in contact at all times, sometimes via virtual music performances.

There is joy in Riccardo Muti’s voice.

The maestro, music director and conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra since 2010, is most happy to be back in the city, he says, returning to live music performances at Orchestra Hall for the first time since February 2020.

The return began two weeks ago with Muti and the CSO kicking off the orchestra’s 2021 fall residency, which ends this weekend with three performances beginning Thursday night.

“The fact that the orchestra here is reunited after 19 months is something of importance not only to the orchestra itself and the musicians who have once again found their musical family, but for the public as well, who can come [once again to the concerts],” Muti says during a recent chat. “Many times governments closed theaters too early and too easily.”

Muti is referring to the pandemic shutdown of all theaters and cultural attractions beginning in March 2020 that devastated the entertainment industry. It is not something he suffered lightly, but Muti was vocal even back then about the need to return to live performance in some capacity. And he did just that, performing in his adopted hometown of Ravenna, Italy, and later in Salzburg, Austria, on New Year’s Eve.

A rebel move? Perhaps, but Muti says it was something the world needed during the darkest days of the pandemic, which is still taking the lives of persons across the globe.

“This fact that, in nearly the whole world, theaters have remained empty, orchestras were reduced to silence, is something that has never been seen before,” he told the Associated Press in May.

For his European concerts, Muti and the various orchestras and choruses were tested daily and social distancing on stage was adhered to. He says there were no reported cases of COVID as a result from any of the performances, the majority of which were open-air. (The New Year’s Eve concert was presented without an audience, and the orchestra was masked for the entire performance per COVID protocols in place at the time in Vienna.)

“During the pandemic, doctors heal the body, which was and is the most important thing,” Muti explains. “To save as many lives as possible is the most important thing. But the virus killed the economy, too, around the world. That’s no reason it should kill the culture. … There were many discussions about the possibility to still have concerts, to have theater, during the pandemic because that’s the medicine for your brain, for your soul, for your heart.

(C) Silvia Lelli
Riccardo Muti conducts the Luigi Cherubini Youth Orchestra and the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino Choir in a program of music inspired by Dante’s “The Divine Comedy” in September in Ravenna, Italy.

“… That was the reason I said we have to do music, but not in a superficial way,” he continues, “but with respect for the rules and laws.”

While he and the CSO were separated by an ocean and a pandemic for over a year, Muti says they remained in contact at all times, sometimes via virtual music performances.

“I stayed in contact with the musicians, sometimes with video, sometimes we talked on the phone. Many times the musicians sent musical homages. So I was never separated from my orchestra. We never truly lost contact. By the time [I returned], in theory I had been here all the time,” he says with a chuckle. “If as a music director you have a wonderful relationship with your musicians, you are like a father to them. I can be like a grandfather, considering my age. [Laughs]. It was a festive atmosphere and it was clear the musicians were eager to play together once again.”

(C) SF / Marco Borrelli
Riccardo Muti conducts the Vienna Philharmonic, the Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Choir, Rosa Feola (soprano), Alisa Kolosova (contralto), Dmitry Korchak (tenor) and Ildar Abdrazakov (bass) in Beethoven’s Missa solemnis at the the August 2021 Salzburg Festival.

Muti’s choice for the season’s opening program: Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 in E-flat Major, Op. 55, “Eroica (Heroic).”

“It was my choice because of the title — an homage to the all the musicians, to the public who had lost the opportunity to hear a great orchestra, and to all the people who lost their lives during this pandemic.

“Now we must return to normality. Piano, piano (slowly, slowly) we are going back to normality, to the beauty of music, art and culture.”

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Fire department personnel inside the apartment Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, near the 400 block of West Wrightwood Avenue in Lincoln Park where a fire took place on the 7th floor and a man fatally jumped out of the window to escape. | Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times

Police said they were investigating the fire at 400 block of West Wrightwood Avenue as an arson.

A man jumped to his death Monday from a seventh-floor apartment in Lincoln Park after a fire had been set, authorities said.

The fire was reported in an apartment around 5 p.m. in the 400 block of West Wrightwood Avenue, police said.

Responding crews found Demarlo M. Branch, 31, on the ground and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Autopsy results released Tuesday found he died of injuries from the jump. His death was ruled a suicide.

Branch lived in the apartment on the 7th floor where the fire was set, a Chicago Fire Department spokesman said.

Four officers suffered minor smoke inhalation and were transported to a hospital for evaluation, officials said.

The fire was contained to one apartment. Police said it was being investigated as an arson but would give no details.

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Minute Maid Park grounds crew paint the baseball postseason logo on the field in Houston. | AP

The Astros won five of seven from White Sox this season, but this time the Sox’ lineup will be at full strength.

White Sox versus Astros is so many things:

A postseason perennial wannabe that won its first division in 13 seasons against a recent World Series champ going for its fifth straight trip to the ALCS, matchup of 70-something managers, a rematch of the 2005 World Series and a sometimes overlooked big-city team against one most infamously known as cheaters.

But once the memory of the Sox’ four-game World Series sweep in 2005, the 21 division titles, seven League Championship trophies and three World Series rings won between the 72-year-old Dusty Baker and 77-year-old Tony La Russa (the one with all the rings) and the black eye of the Astros sign-stealing scandal of 2017 and ’18 that hasn’t completely disappeared are peeled away, a rather evenly matched pairing is left to size up.

The Astros (95-67) are slightly favored over the Sox (93-69), who were 39-34 in the second half but won their weak division going away. Home field advantage, a debatable edge in baseball, tips to the Astros side. The Sox were 40-41 on the road and must play the first two games and a deciding Game 5 (if necessary) at noisy Minute Maid Park where they were swept in a four-game series in June. The Sox won two of three at Guaranteed Rate Field in July.

All it takes to negate the advantage is a strong start by Lance Lynn (probably) or Lucas Giolito, some timely hits by Tim Anderson, a 430-foot home run by Luis Robert and a shutdown ninth inning by AL Reliever of the Year candidate Liam Hendriks in Game 1. That would force the Astros to win the other two on their home turf plus split two games at a hostile, jacked up dressed-in-black Guaranteed Rate Field Sunday and Monday.

Lynn, though, is 5-7 with a 4.41 ERA in 14 appearances (13 starts) in his career, and La Russa is waiting until Wednesday to name him or Lucas Giolito his Game 1 starter. Lynn allowed six runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out six in four innings in one of his worst starts this season. The Astros clobbered Lynn, then a Texas Ranger, for 15 earned runs on 20 hits including five home runs over 11 2/3 innings in 2020.

But Lynn owns a sparkling 2.69 ERA, helping Sox pitchers to a No. 1 ranking in the major leagues in FanGraphs wins above replacement and strikeouts. The rotation of Lynn, Giolito, Carlos Rodon, Dylan Cease and Dallas Keuchel was its backbone, featuring an AL best 3.57 ERA, although Rodon, an All-Star, is not at 100 percent. But the Astros, a close second at 3.60, feature a stout top four with Game 1 starter Lance McCullers Jr. (13-5, 3.16 ERA), Game 2 starter Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14), Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.30) and Jose Urquidy (8-3, 3.62).

The Sox rate an edge with a bullpen that ranks second in the majors (the Astros are ninth). The pen and starters will deal with an Astros offense that led the majors in runs, average and on-base percentage while boasting the lowest strikeout rate (19.4.) The Astros have the top two AL batting average leaders in Yuli Gurriel (.319) and Michael Brantley (.311), the major leagues’ top player in Baseball Reference wins above replacement in shortstop Carlos Correa and 31-homer second baseman Jose Altuve, and their second-best player per WAR is AL Player of the Month for September/October Kyle Tucker, who batted sixth and seventh in the lineup most of the season.

The Sox counter with a potent and (finally) healthy top six of Tim Anderson, Luis Robert, Jose Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, Eloy Jimenez and Yoan Moncada. Because of injuries, Robert and Jimenez will face the Astros for the first time. In one of encounter with the Astros, Brian Goodwin batted fourth. In another, the Sox started Jake Burger, Billy Hamilton, Seby Zavala and Danny Mendick. Only Hamilton has a chance of being on the postseason roster.

Defensively, the Astros are notably better, ranking second in the majors in defensive runs saved. The Sox were 26th, and have admittedly been “atrocious” at times defending the stolen base, La Russa has said.

“It’s a fact that they’ve had a lot of experience and made deep runs in the playoffs and that goes a long way. You’re not going to intimidate a team like that, you’re not going to put pressure on a team like that,” Grandal said. “And all they’re waiting for is for you to make a mistake and they’re going to take over. Hopefully, they make the mistake before we do.”

Prediction: Astros in five.

NOTES: La Russa was noncommittal about Carlos Rodon’s status for the ALDS. “Had a nice throw [Monday], looked OK [Tuesday]. So far, still under consideration. It’s a good sign.”

*Both teams will work out Wednesday at Minute Maid Park.

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Team Krappie INC. gathered at the festivities at Jackson Park last week for salmon. | Provided by BoRabb Williams

Chinook lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report; plus, snagging on the lakefront is underway and the fall feeding frenzy gives hints of arriving on inland waters.

Chinook continue to lead this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report, plus snagging on the lakefront is underway and the fall feeding frenzy gives hints of arriving on inland waters.

BoRabb Williams messaged the photo at the top and this:

Team Krappie Inc…. and Friends….. Opening night for Salmon Snagging Season……. but I don’t SNAG!!!

Earlier he had texted an invite for me to see the “BIG FEAST and Fishing” Thursday night into Friday morning at Jackson Park.

Guys start at 3…4pm cooking and stuff… while throwing Lures before 12am strikes

Next year, I need to attend to savor the experience. My stamina isn’t back enough yet to do it this year.

SHORELINE/TRIBUTARY SALMON/TROUT

Provided
Anthony Sokolov with one of the biggest Chinook caught this fall from the Chicago shoreline.

CHICAGO: Jason “Special One” Le, who has been on a roll with Chicago kings lately, texted the photo above and this Monday night:

This is biggest kings I saw so far in Chicago

44 inch caught at diversey

He caught it on Jason special custom lure

Mu boi Anthony [Sokolov]

25lbs and up he said

He don’t got scale with him

Catch and release

Steve Palmisano at Henry’s Sports and Bait said salmon are spotty, sporadic as different schools come through. “But we are seeing more fish coming through the harbors. I call them the stupid ones. They are like new ducks flying into a blind.” The water continues cool, so it prolongs the season, he said. Spoons and crankbaits still catching salmon.

Carl Vizzone texted on Friday about fishing at Northerly Island

Not much of a report here. Been trying here daily. More and more jumping, but we haven’t hooked up yet. We’ve just been on fishing pier here at Northerly. I’m determined to get a fish here or bust. Hope all is well with you!

On Tuesday morning, he texted the photo below of Eric Gholston with a salmon from off the handicapped pier.

Provided
Eric Gholston with a salmon from Northerly Island.

WAUKEGAN: Capt. Dan Leslie at the Salmon Stop in Waukegan said spoons and spawn sacs are working for primarily kings with a few coho around the harbor.

Capt. Scott Wolfe of School of Fish Charters emailed:

. . .

Shore – a new group of Kings showed up mid-week. This group seemed to be smaller than the first ones, but take what you can get. Fishing was good through the weekend and the fish were not totally turned yet. For persons not snagging – try to find an area where there are no snaggers for many reasons. Skein is starting to work and I had a buddy that got two nice bass on skein in addition to a couple of kings.

I just pulled my boat but I’ll continue to get you good info when I can.

Capt. Scott Wolfe

School of Fish Charters/Manipulator
630-341-0550
schooloffishcharters.com

NORTHWEST INDIANA: Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:

Kings and coho in all nwi tributaries spawn sacks, skein and spinners best.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN: Weather and wind really limited pier and shoreline fishing.

ILLINOIS TROUT SEASON

Early catch-and-release season for trout is open at select spots, closest is Rock Creek at Kankakee River State Park. The regular fall trout season opens Oct. 16.

SALMON SNAGGING

Salmon snagging on the Illinois shoreline of Lake Michigan runs through Dec. 31.

Here are the key details from the IDNR:

4) Snagging for chinook and coho salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted:

A) Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon.

B) Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only).

C) Winnetka Power Plant discharge area.

D) Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors).

ILLINOIS FROG SEASON

Illinois’ bullfrog (only) season runs through Oct. 15. A fishing license is required. “Bullfrogs may be taken by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand, or landing net.” Daily bag limits eight, possession limit 16.

LAKEFRONT PARKING

Chicago Park District’s parking passes for the fisherman’s parking lots at DuSable and Burnham harbors are on sale at Henry’s Sports and Bait in Bridgeport and Park Bait at Montrose Harbor.

Readers suggest SpotHero app downtown. Otherwise, here are some basics: Foster (free street parking or pay lot); Montrose (now a mix of metered and free street parking); Belmont (pay lots on north and south sides); Diversey (pay lot or street parking); DuSable Harbor (pay lot or fisherman’s lot); Northerly Island/Burnham Harbor (meters, pay lot or fisherman’s lot); 31st/Burnham (meter parking between McCormick Place and 31st Street Harbor); Oakwood/39th (meters); 63rd Street/Casino Pier (pay lot); Steelworkers Park (free street parking at east end of 87th); Cal Park (free parking).

AREA LAKES

Even with the warmth, some are finding crappie.

Provided
Ken “Husker” O’Malley with a fall crappie.

Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed the photos above and below, and this:

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

Area lakes-Waiting. The weather hasn’t decided yet if it should be summer or fall. The water temps are slowly going down.

Bass are good during evening hours on top water baits. Poppers continue to be the best choice. Overcast evenings have been better.

Crappie are still scattered in the main basin. Stay mobile to pick off a few here and there on minnow baits. First light and last hour have been the best times.

Here is the nature pic of the week [below]. The seasons are starting to change.

TTYL

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Provided by Ken “Husker” O’Malley
Fall changes.

Pete Lamar emailed:

Hi Dale,

. . .

I did catch some good-sized bluegills in a forest preserve pond on Sunday afternoon after the rain. It wasn’t fast fishing-I had to keep moving to find the fish and worked hard for them-but they would bite when I found them.

Pete

BRAIDWOOD LAKE

Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Oct. 19 is the final day of fishing.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Arden Katz: Little tougher fishing with many boats on Saturday; but lots of perch (“I thought I was at 89th”) trolling in 10-12 ft. on points with live bait for yellow bass, white bass with a stray channel catfish, too.

Staff at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said crappie are in the channels and bluegill, too, some perch in the bays around the lily pads; walleye starting to move up with the cooler nights; catfish the usual on stinkbait or crawlers.

NOTE: Check updates on water conditions at foxwaterway.com or (847) 587-8540.

NOTE 2: The Stratton Lock and Dam is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. through Oct. 31.

CHICAGO RIVER

Provided by Jeffrey Williams
A big Chicago River carp.

Jeffrey Williams messaged the photo above and this on Saturday:

1 hour to get him in

DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Delavan Lake 10/04/21 through 10/11/21

Fishing has been very tough over the last week or so. The warm weather has confused the fish and they aren’t sure whether they should be in their fall or summer patterns. The best bite on the lake remains the walleye. They can be caught off the weedlines.

Walleye pike can be caught trolling deep diving crank baits or jigging in 35 ft of water. You want to be just outside the main lake points when trolling. I troll between 16 and 22 ft of water. The early morning hours are the best. You want a fire tiger or pearl colored crank bait which resembles the crappie. Look for the fish by Browns Channel or by the island. You want to get to the lake about an hour before sunrise.

Northern pike have been spotty. The pike I’ve caught were in 10-12 ft of water on the weedline. They can be caught on medium suckers fished on a slip bobber. The best location has been by the Oriental boathouse or by the Yacht Club. I haven’t been fishing suckers on lindy rigs so that might be a possibility. Keep the boat on the outside of the weed edge in 17 ft of water and back troll into the wind.

Bluegills remain suspended in the main lake basin. They are 20 ft down in 35 to 40 ft of water. A good fish locator is essential to find the active fish. The best presentation is an ice jig or a single hook with a heavy split shot. You want to fish straight lined right beneath the boat. Look for the fish by the Village or off of Willow Point.

Perch are being caught in 12-15 ft of water. The best bait is large leaf worms or small fat head minnows. Look for the fish by the outlet channel or down by the old Boy Scout camp. Fish the worms on a slip bobber rig for the best success.

Largemouth bass are in 4-5 ft of water around the boat docks. I’ve been concentrating on south shore piers. They can be caught on Senkos or All Terrain Stiks. Green pumpkin or watermelon seed are the best colors.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050

DES PLAINES RIVER

Provided by Jonny Pitelka
A collage of fall fishing on the Des Plaines River.

Jonny Pitelka messaged the photo above and this on Wednesday:

Hey Dale I hope all is great! I had the day off yesterday from work and was able to hit the water! Water temps are getting chilly and the smallie frenzy fall bite has begun!!

DOWNSTATE

POWERTON: Winter hours–8 a.m.-4 p.m.–are back. Last day for boat fishing is Oct. 24. Bank fishing runs through Oct. 29.

EMIQUON: Access permits and liability waivers are again required. They are available Tuesday to Saturday at Dickson Mounts Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Closed for the season. Check regulations at http://www.wetlands-initiative.org/dixon-paddling-fishing.

SHELBYVILLE: Check with Ken Wilson of Lithia Guide Service. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing.

FOX RIVER

Pete Lamar emailed:

Hi Dale,

Not much of a change this week, but at least things didn’t get any worse. I got rained on for the first time in a long time. It didn’t do anything to raise river and stream levels, but they didn’t get any lower. I fished a small trib of the Fox and caught a few nice bluegills (and some very small smallmouths) where I usually only find smallmouths. I think the current was so slow due to low water levels that fish usually associated with still water are now able to occupy it. As far as the Fox itself, it didn’t come up much, if at all with the weekend rain. I was going to practice some two-handed casting and had to go to an area not far below a dam to find any current. The water was practically stationary a mile or so above the dam.

. . .

Pete

GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Lake Geneva 10/04/21 through 10/11/21

You will never find a warmer October than we have this year. The fish are in a bit of a funk due to the extended heat wave we are having. The lake temperatures have actually been increasing over the past week.

Rock bass can be readily caught in the 12-15 ft depth range. They are being caught on split shot rigged nightcrawlers or fat head minnows. The best location has been by the Military Academy or by Knollwood.

Smallmouth bass are starting to show up on the main lake points. They can be caught by dragging jigs or Carolina rigging Zoom lizards. The best spots have been Conference Point or by Black Point. The jigs I prefer are All Terrain football jigs in the 1/2 oz green pumpkin. This pattern will be effective for the next few weeks.

Northern Pike action has been improving in the weed flats. Look for the fish in Williams Bay or Fontana. As always, the best approach is slip bobber rigging large golden shiners about 1 ft above the weeds. The only way to fish them is to keep the boat anchored. You want to key on the weed points on the flat.

Perch fishing has been fantastic. The fish are in 12 ft of water. To catch the bigger fish, you need to use bigger minnows. You want to slip bobber rig about 1-2 ft off bottom. The best locations have been by Rainbow point or by Knollwood.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050

GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN

Guide Mike Norris emailed:

Fishing Report – 10/03/2021

Mike Norris

Big Green Lake – Surface temps remain in the upper 60’s and the smallmouth bass bite continues to be good along the weed edge and rocky shoals. Swimbaits and tubes are accounting for my catches, with numerous fish going three pounds or better. Muskie fishing has picked up also. Try outside weed edges in 13 -17 feet of water for both species. Bluegills remain scattered but should regroup with falling water temps. I am getting a few reports of walleye action in 30 -40 feet of water on jigging raps. The smallie bite should continue through the month of October.

Rick Wendlandt – Largemouth bass on Fox Lake are shallow and can be found in two feet of water and under piers along rocky shorelines. A Senko is my go-to lure. Walleye fishing has improved with anglers trolling Flickr Shad and Salmo crankbaits out over the basin of the lake. Northern pike are active so try using wire leaders when trolling. I am getting reports of several anglers catching crappies while trolling for walleye.

To book a guide trip reach out to me via my Facebook page at mike.norris.7773 or email me through my website at www.comecatchsmallmouth.com

GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR weekly report.

HEIDECKE LAKE

Open 6 a.m. (6:30 bank fishing) to sunset. Tuesday, Oct. 12 is the final day of fishing.

KANKAKEE RIVER

Provided
Bob Johnson with a good northern pike from the Kankakee River.

Bob Johnson emailed the photos above and below, and this:

Hi Dale –

Back to some spots on the river Saturday morning for the slow start to fall bite. I believe the fisherman in the area will appreciate the cooler rain coming in this week paired with shorter days. Summer is trying to stick around. Fall is on the way?

The river is in good shape with clear water and temps at 69 to 70. Water level is low. Joel Wilson and myself caught a mixed bag of Smallmouth, largemouth and a good size river pike. Northern was caught on rapala crainkbait and Bass were hitting on surface baits and finesse baits sticking to dark colors. Had success in 3 to 7′ depths and around lay downs.

Provided by Bob Johnson
Joel Wilson with a good smallmouth bass from the Kankakee River.

LAKE ERIE

Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.

LAKEFRONT

SALMON SNAGGING: Here are the details from the IDNR:

4) Snagging for chinook and coho salmon only is permitted from the following Lake Michigan shoreline areas from October 1 through December 31; however, no snagging is allowed at any time within 200 feet of a moored watercraft or as posted: A) Lincoln Park Lagoon from the Fullerton Avenue Bridge to the southern end of the Lagoon. B) Waukegan Harbor (in North Harbor basin only). C) Winnetka Power Plant discharge area. D) Jackson Harbor (Inner and Outer Harbors).

d) Disposition of Snagged Salmon and Paddlefish. All snagged salmon and paddlefish must be removed from the area from which they are taken and disposed of properly, in accordance with Article 5, Section 5-5 of the Fish and Aquatic Life Code.

Steve Palmisano at Henry’s Sports and Bait said salmon are spotty, sporadic as different schools come through, but we are seeing more fish coming through the harbors. “I call them the stupid ones. They are like new ducks flying into a blind.” The water continues cool, so it prolongs the season, he said. Spoons and crankbaits still catching salmon.

Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted:

Good morning Dale. With this crazy warm weather and warm water it’s so hard to predict what the fishing should be, could be, will be. From what I have seen and heard there are still plenty of Kings being caught up and down the lakefront some are dark some are still pretty clean. I think there’s a few trout starting to mingle in the mix. There’s also a few Northern starting to be caught while casting for the salmon. There’s still some guys catching some Smallmouth in a few of the areas. Some big carp and drum around the area also.

As of Monday October 4th our hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. 7 days a week.

Thank you Dale have a great week!

Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said lake trout on the reefs are definitely active. “That is definitely the place to fish if you got the time.” Some guys out of North Point trying to fish other than the reefs with mixed results for a mixed bag.

Out of Chicago, fishing come back for lake trout and a couple other fish in 120-160.

Capt. Dan Leslie at the Salmon Stop in Waukegan said spoons and spawn sacs are working for primarily kings with a few coho around the harbor.

Capt. Scott Wolfe of School of Fish Charters emailed:

Offshore – the fish have adjusted to the warmer water in the area and fishing was again great this week. Limits of trout are being taken on the reefs and hills offshore and there are some 2 and 3 year old kings in the same area. Spoons can take both. Presentations run 120 to the bottom down. There is little above that depth. Glow and white spoons seemed to be best. Warrior UV Wonderbread and Arctic Ice Spoons were good. Fish were very speed sensitive, sometimes wanting fast and sometimes slow. To target the biggest Trout use the dodger and Mo rigs from Jimmy fly or Lake Michigan Angler. Again White glo and blue/Aqua worked well.

Shore – a new group of Kings showed up mid-week. This group seemed to be smaller than the first ones, but take what you can get. Fishing was good through the weekend and the fish were not totally turned yet. For persons not snagging – try to find an area where there are no snaggers for many reasons. Skein is starting to work and I had a buddy that got two nice bass on skein in addition to a couple of kings.

I just pulled my boat but I’ll continue to get you good info when I can.

Capt. Scott Wolfe

School of Fish Charters/Manipulator
630-341-0550
schooloffishcharters.com

LaSALLE LAKE

Steve Palmisano at Henry’s Sports and Bait said anglers are still catching big catfish and blues. Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Oct. 15 is the final day of fishing.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Click here for the update from D&S Bait.

MAZONIA

Hours are 6 a.m. to sunset. Oct. 19 is the final day of fishing; but Monster stays open all year.

MENOMINEE RIVER, WISCONSIN

Provided
Mike Mladenik with a good walleye from the Menominee River.

Guide Mike Mladenik of bigsmallmouthbass.com emailed the photo above and this:

The fishing has been on Fire the last 2 weeks of September including 10 smallmouth over 20-inches. The Menominee River is at normal fall levels and smallmouth bass are stacking up even though the water temp is still warm at 60 degrees. October sould be excellent!!!

Walleye fishing on High Falls Flowage has also been good so now is the time to book a fall walleye trip. On October 2 I caught a huge 30-inch walleye which was easily over 10-pounds. I released the walleye back into the flowage.

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:

Weather continues to be too nice!

Cool nights can’t seem to combat the sunny, warm afternoons and get these water temps dropping. This traditionally has been a very good weekend to be fishing, last year at this time the weather was cold and the fishing hot! Forecast doesn’t show much of a change for the coming week. Algae blooms popping up like its August for crying out loud!

Smallmouth Bass: Good-Very Good – The bright spot for this week’s reports as Smallies seem to be gathering on rock piles and drowned wood. Drop-shotting 3″ minnow replicas, slip-floating minnows and jigging crawlers helped save several trips this past week with #’s and large Smallies to 20+”. A few anglers still scoring big Smallies shallow on top-water and swim baits in water as shallow as 2-3′.

Largemouth Bass: Good – Finding green weeds has been key, swimming 3-5″ swim baits, spinner baits and lipless cranks have been effective to finding action for those still targeting Largemouth.

Northern Pike: Fair – Even this typically easy to find fish have had their moments. With days of no clouds and little, to no, wind, even Pike became tough at times. Swim baits (4-5″) spinner baits and jig and 4-6″ suckers have been best.

Crappie: Fair – Big slabs (Crappies of 13-14″+) but numbers off. Fish still scattered, on bright, flat days work deeper to 16-19′ to find fish. Eaters (10-12″) coming on medium fats under floats.

Walleye: Fair – Bites best at dawn and again after 5 PM, as Walleyes not happy with high pressure, sunny skies and little wind. Chubs and crawlers best choice, these fish also very scattered and light biting.

Musky: Fair-Poor – Action not what’s expected! Still some shallow weed fish, but top-water not up to snuff. Bucktails with Marabou and swimming rubber baits best. Haven’t had many reports of size, mostly low-mid 30″ers.

Yellow Perch: Fair – Not being targeted much. A few nice fish in drowned wood being caught by anglers targeting Walleye or Crappie.

Bluegill: Fair-Poor – Not being targeted. Some big Gills (9+”) in and around deep (14-18′) wood on 1/2 crawlers.

What to think! Water temps dropping into low 60’s overnight, but shooting up to 68-70 degrees by afternoons. As stated earlier, algae blooms off setting, looks like the typical fall “sucker” season may be a couple weeks away. All we can do is keep casting away, waiting for the “bite” to get hot once the weather gets cold.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
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NORTHWEST INDIANA

Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:

Kings and coho in all nwi tributaries spawn sacks, skein and spinners best.

Crappie better and better at lake George in Hobart use crappie minnows and fish around the bridges at evening time

Rosser lake still giving up channel catfish on triple s stinkbait.

Slezs bait went to fall and winter hours now 5am to 5pm daily.

Christina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:

Hey there, Dale. The cooler temperatures may be welcome as far as people go, but some of the fish are going through an adjustment process at the moment. Here’s what’s been heard as of late:

Perch fishing has been very slow from the Hammond area, to Michigan City all the way up to South Haven. A few perch have been caught in local, inland lakes.

Trolling for big fish has been steady, with Lake Trout & a few salmon; the best depths have been in 135-175 FOW, using small spoons, spin doctors, & flies. Anglers have been doing OKAY jigging for Salmon in the mouths of the Little Calumet & Paw Paw rivers.

Smallmouth and Walleye are still being caught on the rivers & Wolf Lake on nightcrawlers & spinners.

Catfish are still being caught in nice numbers; Dowling Park, Oak Ridge Prairie, & Powderhorn have been hot spots lately. Cutbait (suckers, shad, & skipjack), nightcrawlers, & beemoths performing nicely.

As for panfishing, Bluegill & Crappie are doing moderately well in the inland lakes. Beetle spins, beemoths, & red worms are items of choice.

ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR’s report, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday.

SHABBONA LAKE

Concessions are going. Site hours through Oct. 31 are 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LAKEFRONT

Click here for the southern Lake Michigan reports from the Wisconsin DNR.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said wind and weather limited pier and boat action for salmon and trout, when boats are able to get out it was 120-160 for lakers, steelhead and a few coho; smallmouth, drum and catfish with a few walleye are being caught in the river.

Paddle and Pole hosts the Berrien Springs Fish Ladder Camera.

WISCONSIN RIVER

Provided by Rob Abouchar
Joe “The Grasseater” Schatz with a good smallmouth bass from the Wisconsin River.

Rob Abouchar emailed the photo above and this:

Hi Dale

With the reggae gig done and a big success it was up to the Wisconsin river for some fall foliage and fishing. The Smallmouth were starting to put on the fall feed bag. Water still in the low 60s and bass hitting wacky rigged senko in 2 to 6 feet of water. Joe The Grasseater Schatz got his personal best Smallmouth Bass. It truly was one of those big fish that you see in the net and take note. We took no measurement or weight but it was one of the biggest I’ve seen for this section of the river. Some small northern were also caught on spinner bait and chatter baits. The foliage was near peak in Merrill and the fall feedbag is on.

Tight lines and good health

Rob Abouchar
Fall arrives on the Wisconsin River.

WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN

Guide Bill Stoeger in Fremont texted:

Water conditions still the same. Temp 64 degrees. Crappie and white bass are the best bet to fill a cooler. In the wood for crappie, sand bars for white bass.

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After orchestrating a blow-up of the Chicago Cubs roster at the 2021 MLB trade deadline, Jed Hoyer and David Ross have plenty of work to do. One of the many changes Hoyer has already made just days after their final game of the season was firing hitting coach Anthony Iapoce after three years with the […] Chicago Cubs make a change to coaching staff – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & MoreRead More

A crew removes a body from an apartment in the 7700 block of South Carpenter Street after a Chicago police officer shot and killed a man while answering a call of a domestic disturbance in the Gresham building on the South Side, Monday morning, Oct. 4, 2021. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times

Police said officers were called to a home in the 7700 block of South Carpenter Street and observed a “domestic altercation.” They gave no details.

Neighbors gathered early Monday outside a red brick apartment building in Gresham as word spread that an officer had shot and killed a man they knew from doing odd jobs on the block.

They traded rumors and shared stories, but mostly they asked questions about what exactly happened in the second-floor apartment in the 7700 block of South Carpenter Street.

They got few answers from police, who cordoned off the entrance with red crime tape and refused to answer most questions at a news conference held down the street about three hours later.

Deputy Chief Rahman Muhammad told reporters that officers were called to the apartment around 7:35 a.m. after getting a call about a “domestic disturbance” between a man and a woman there.

“The officers observed a domestic altercation coming from within,” he said. “The responding officer discharged his service weapon, striking an individual.”

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago Police investigate inside an apartment in the 7700 block of South Carpenter Street after an officer shot and killed a man while answering a call of a domestic disturbance in the Gresham building on the South Side, Monday morning, Oct. 4, 2021.

Muhammad said officers were called to the home by a “male subject from inside the house,” but would not say if that person was Michael A. Craig, the 61-year-old man who was shot by police.

He said a knife was recovered but again would not say if Craig was holding it at the time. In fact, Muhammad would not even say Craig had died from the gunshot.

That came later from a police spokesman and fire officials.

The woman was transported in good condition to a hospital, but it was unclear how or if she was injured. Muhammad would not say.

Charles Odum lives across the street from the apartment building and said he had known Craig for two or three years.

“He was a good neighbor,” said Odum, 57. “Every time I see him in the morning picking up his paper we’d say hello.”

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Neighbors watch as Chicago Police investigate inside an apartment in the 7700 block of South Carpenter Street after an officer shot and killed a man while answering a call of a domestic disturbance in the Gresham building on the South Side, Monday morning, Oct. 4, 2021.

But Odum said police often responded to Craig’s home for disturbances.

“Police always come over here to that unit, always have some type of argument going on whether it’s him, a cousin, or whoever stays up there,” Odum said.

“I just hate that it happened like this. He’s a good person, from what I know, very polite, very talkative,” Odum said. “We just chatted about random stuff, life, in the mornings when we saw each other.”

Neighbors said Craig had lived in the apartment building for about four years and did maintenance work there.

Arnita Geder, 57, lives in the building and described Craig as a “gentle soul.” She said he was in a relationship with a woman who’d recently given birth.

Geder and other neighbors said they would often hear the couple arguing.

“Him and her used to get into it all the time,” Geder said. “She was acting real strange yesterday. Every time you’d say something, she’d snap at you.”

Another neighbor, Brandy Johnson, also said police had been called numerous times to the house for disputes between Craig and his girlfriend.

“Cops have been here dozens of times,” Johnson said.

She said the girlfriend appeared to have mental issues. “She was walking around talking to herself,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Craig was originally from the West Side and that he’d moved to Gresham with his girlfriend.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability was investigating the shooting.

It was the second fatal police shooting in Chicago in a month. On Sept. 19, police fatally shot a knife-wielding man after answering a domestic disturbance call in Englewood, authorities said.

Officers responded to the 6500 block of South Harvard Avenue that morning and encountered Turell Brown armed with a knife, police said. An officer shot Brown, 28, and he was later pronounced dead.

Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago Police investigate inside an apartment in the 7700 block of South Carpenter Street after an officer shot and killed a man while answering a call of a domestic disturbance in the Gresham building on the South Side, Monday morning, Oct. 4, 2021.Read More