Gunfire at Kids' Soccer Game Leaves 17-Year-Old Critically Injured in Chicago

A 17-year-old boy was critically injured in a shooting on Sunday evening near a children’s soccer match in Chicago’s West Ridge neighborhood, prompting concern and outrage among residents about youth violence and public safety.

The incident unfolded around 5:15 p.m. on the 2100 block of West Granville Avenue, on the city’s Far North Side, where families had gathered at a local park. Witnesses reported that a group of children were playing soccer when gunfire suddenly erupted, sending parents and kids running for safety.

According to police, the teen was approached by an armed suspect riding an electric scooter who initially demanded the victim’s belongings. After allegedly taking the items, the suspect shot the boy in the upper body and left forearm before fleeing the scene. The victim was transported to St. Francis Hospital and remains in critical condition, officials confirmed.

While initial reports framed the shooting as a possible robbery, witnesses at the scene offered a different account, saying the incident stemmed from a dispute during the youth soccer match. A mother who witnessed the event described the terrifying moment she heard the gunfire.

“We heard a big bang, almost like a firework boom,” she said. “The kids came running off the field, and my youngest one said, ‘Someone’s been shot, mom.’”

The woman, who asked not to be identified, said her 9-year-old son was playing nearby when the shooting occurred. She recounted how the suspected shooter—described as a young teen—pulled a gun from a fanny pack and shot the 17-year-old boy during a heated argument.

“He grabbed the gun and the guy who got shot was like, ‘Please don’t shoot me,’ and then he shot him,” the woman added.

The shooter fled the scene before police arrived. No arrests have been made as of Monday, and Chicago police are continuing their investigation.

The community is left shaken by the violence in what is typically considered a safe and family-friendly neighborhood. Many residents expressed disbelief that an argument over a game could escalate into gunfire involving teens.

“To have access to a loaded firearm and the emotional mindset to go from playing to shooting—it just shows you where our youth is headed,” one concerned neighbor said.

Parents who frequent the park say the event has deeply unsettled them and their children. For many, the park near the charter school is a daily refuge. Now, that sense of security has been severely fractured.

40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez later confirmed that the shooting appeared to stem from a robbery and addressed the broader emotional impact of such violence on the community.

“The impacts of violence extend beyond the immediate victim to family members, friends, neighbors, and other community members,” Vasquez said, urging those affected to seek mental health support through city services.

As the investigation continues, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.