CHICAGO — Police will host an emergency assistance center on Thursday in response to a deadly shooting in Little Village that left one dead and six others injured over the weekend.
Officers said anyone in need of trauma services and resources should consider stopping by the event and added that they are also looking to give any witnesses to Saturday’s deadly shooting a chance to come forward and speak with police.
“This is not only a response to those seven individuals who were shot, and one fatally unfortunately this Saturday, but for all victims of violence,” CPD Director of Community Policing, Glen Brooks, said.
According to Chicago police, just after 10 p.m. on Saturday, a prayer vigil was being held in the front yard of a home in the 2500 block of South Spaulding Avenue when a gunman approached in a jeep before getting out and opening fire.
Officers said one man was killed by the gunfire and six others were wounded.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the victim as 32-year-old Froylan Garcia.
In the wake of the violence, CPD is hosting an Emergency Assistance Center on Thursday inside Little Village’s Farragut Career Academy, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Police officials said they want to stress that assistance and resources are available to anyone in need.
“It doesn’t have to be from this shooting. Any shooting, it doesn’t matter whether it happened yesterday, last week, or last year. If you are a victim of a shooting and you need services, this is the place to get them,” Brooks said.
Saturday’s shooting sent shockwaves through the neighborhood.
Neighbors who did not want to show their faces out of fear for their safety told WGN-TV that there were so many shots they couldn’t keep count.
A search for the person responsible for the deadly shooting is ongoing.
CPD said support services will include crime victim compensation applications, domestic violence services, youth services and a visit with therapy dogs. They say victims of trauma will also be able to talk openly with officers.
“Tomorrow we want to make sure that we heal the community so we can help prevent this cycle of violence,” Brooks said.
According to CPD, resources will be available in English and Spanish.