Afternoon Gunfire Near Chicago School Shakes Students and Community

A quiet afternoon near Mather High School on Chicago’s North Side was shattered when a 17-year-old student was shot near the school’s neighboring park, shaking students and residents in the West Ridge neighborhood.

The incident happened just after school let out, around 3:19 p.m., as the teenager sat inside a vehicle on the 5900 block of North California Avenue. According to police, someone approached the car and fired a shot, injuring the student before fleeing the scene. The teen was taken to NorthShore Evanston Hospital and is reported to be in stable condition.

The shooting occurred near Mather Park, a popular spot for students after school, with its basketball courts and open fields along California and Thorndale Avenues. What is typically a place for recreation and connection quickly turned into a scene of flashing lights, police tape, and worried parents.

The area, which includes family homes and a nearby gas station, has not been known for violent incidents, making the shooting all the more unsettling for those who live and learn nearby.

In response, additional safety measures are being put in place. Crisis counselors will be available at Mather High School to support students and staff, and Chicago Police will maintain a presence at dismissal to reassure families and deter any further incidents.

As investigators work to uncover what led to the shooting, the community is left searching for answers and solutions. The presence of gun violence near a school is a painful reminder of the challenges many urban neighborhoods face, even in places where young people should feel safe.

For now, West Ridge residents are holding their children a little closer, calling for change, and hoping this moment sparks real action to protect their schools and streets.