Mass shooting leaves multiple victims at funeral home on Chicago's South Side

A drive-by shooting has left 14 people wounded after mourners were ambushed at a funeral home on Chicago’s South Side, as yet another day of violence rocked the city. 

Police said at least 60 bullets were fired in the shootout Tuesday evening when people inside a car opened fire on the funeral party, who then returned fire on the vehicle. 

This comes as violent crime soars across the Windy City, with 63 people being shot including 12 dead over the weekend and 50 cops injured during a protest at a statue of Christopher Columbus Friday night.

Donald Trump vowed Tuesday to send in 150 federal agents to tackle law and order in the city, as he blasted several Democrat cities where he said ‘anarchy’ is reining.     

A mass shooting has left 14 people injured after an ambush at a funeral home on Chicago's South Side. Pictured police are on the scene outside the funeral home after a shooting in the Gresham neighborhood of Chicago

A mass shooting has left 14 people injured after an ambush at a funeral home on Chicago’s South Side. Pictured police are on the scene outside the funeral home after a shooting in the Gresham neighborhood of Chicago

First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter said in a press conference Tuesday night (pictured) that 14 victims had been taken to five different area hospitals and that their conditions are currently unknown

First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter said in a press conference Tuesday night (pictured) that 14 victims had been taken to five different area hospitals and that their conditions are currently unknown

The South Side shooting took place at around 6:30p.m. Tuesday evening as people were leaving a funeral on the 1018-block of West 79th Street in the Gresham neighborhood of Chicago. 

First Deputy Superintendent Eric Carter confirmed in a press conference Tuesday night that 14 victims had been taken to five different area hospitals and that their conditions are currently unknown.

One person has been taken into custody and is being interviewed by detectives, Carter said. 

The number of shooters is currently unknown.  

Carter said the mass shooting began when a black vehicle sped along the road outside the funeral home traveling west on 79th Street and people inside began firing shots at funeral attendees.

The funeral attendees then returned fire on the vehicle, he said.

The vehicle continued driving, turning north on Carpenter Street before it crashed and people left the car and fled in several directions.   

Chicago police investigate the scene of the shooting as night falls. One person has been taken into custody

Chicago police investigate the scene of the shooting as night falls. One person has been taken into custody

The number of shooters is currently unknown but one 'person of interest' is being interviewed by detectives

The number of shooters is currently unknown but one ‘person of interest’ is being interviewed by detectives

Carter (pictured) said the mass shooting began when a black vehicle sped along the road outside the funeral home traveling west on 79th Street and people inside began firing shots at funeral attendees

Carter (pictured) said the mass shooting began when a black vehicle sped along the road outside the funeral home traveling west on 79th Street and people inside began firing shots at funeral attendees

Carter said police could not confirm how many shooters there were on both sides but that they ‘have a person of interest being interviewed by detectives of the area’.

A total of 60 shell casings had been recovered from the scene. 

Carter would not say who the funeral was for but confirmed that police presence had already been assigned to the funeral ahead of the service.  

Police said there are no known juvenile victims but the ages, genders and identities of the victims are currently unknown. 

Initial reports said at least 11 victims had been taken to hospital in a serious to critical condition. 

Fire officials told ABC7 that nine of the victims were taken to hospitals by emergency services, while at least two others drove themselves to hospital. 

One witness told NBC Chicago described the city’s streets like ‘a war’, saying they heard gunfire before seeing ‘bodies laying everywhere’ in the street.

‘All we saw was just bodies laying everywhere,’ Arnita Gerder said. 

‘Shot up everywhere, all over. Legs, stomach, back, all over the place. We thought it was a war out here.’ 

‘We saw a car with about six bullet holes in it and it was turned facing the grass like he lost control. We saw a hat down on the ground and evidently it was his,’ another witness Kenneth Hughes told NBC Chicago.  

Footage from the aftermath showed the area cordoned off by police tape and several emergency services vehicles in the area. 

Officers were seen placing evidence markers on the road.   

The funeral attendees returned fire on the vehicle which then crashed, with its occupants fleeing (pictured the scene)

The funeral attendees returned fire on the vehicle which then crashed, with its occupants fleeing (pictured the scene) 

Carter said they could not confirm how many shooters there were on both sides but a total of 60 shell casings had been recovered from the scene (the scene above)

Carter said they could not confirm how many shooters there were on both sides but a total of 60 shell casings had been recovered from the scene (the scene above)

Footage from the scene shows the area cordoned off by police tape and several emergency services vehicles in the area

Footage from the scene shows the area cordoned off by police tape and several emergency services vehicles in the area

Chicago has been ravaged by a surge in violence in recent weeks, with a 48 percent spike in homicides and 46 percent rise in shootings compared to the same time last year, according to the latest Chicago Police Department figures 

On Monday alone, 25 people were shot, including four fatalities.   

This followed an equally bloody weekend, where 63 were shot including 12 dead.     

Trump said Monday he would send federal agents to Chicago and several other Democrat cities to tackle the spiraling crime and crack down on protests against racism and police brutality – a move that Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she would ‘under no circumstances’ allow to happen.  

A total of 150 agents will be deployed to Chicago this weekend, though it is not clear what department they will come from.

Lightfoot warned she would take Trump to court if he sent unidentified US government agents to police the city.  

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot blasted 'militarized assistance' she did not request

Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot blasted ‘militarized assistance’ she did not request

President Trump has vowed to send troops into a number of cities run by Democrats, saying the 'radical left' will 'destroy' the country

President Trump has vowed to send troops into a number of cities run by Democrats, saying the ‘radical left’ will ‘destroy’ the country

‘What we do not need, and what will certainly make our community less safe is secret, federal agents deployed to Chicago,’ she wrote. 

‘Any other form of militarized assistance within our borders that would not be within our control or within the direct command of the Chicago Police Department would spell disaster.’

Lightfoot added: ‘As any law enforcement official will tell you, what is needed more than anything in an operation to protect lives is a clear mission, a detailed operations plan, and a chain of command Secret, federal agents who do not know Chicago, are unfamiliar with the unique circumstances of our neighborhoods and who would operate outside the established infrastructure of local law enforcement would not be effective, regardless of the number, and worse will foment a massive wave of opposition.’ 

But Lightfoot also said she would accept identified FBI agents and other law enforcement officials, in a sign local officials are buckling under the weight of the growing crime spree. 

The president’s wading in comes after dozens of Chicago police officers were injured by protesters hurling fireworks and frozen water bottles at them during a protest over a statue of Christopher Columbus Friday night.

Chicago police released a shocking video which showed protesters throwing the homemade missiles at cops in Grant Park. 

The otherwise peaceful protest descended into chaos when it reached the park’s statue of Christopher Columbus as demonstrators used an assortment of dangerous missiles to push back cops. 

Police say that 49 officers were injured as protesters through fireworks, frozen bottles, cans and other items during a protest in Grant Park, Chicago, on Friday night

Police say that 49 officers were injured as protesters through fireworks, frozen bottles, cans and other items during a protest in Grant Park, Chicago, on Friday night

Video of the protest released by police shows officers fighting against dangerous projectiles

Video of the protest released by police shows officers fighting against dangerous projectiles

Chicago police and protesters face off in Grant Park after protesters attempted to topple a Christopher Columbus Statue Friday. The protest had remained peaceful until this point

Chicago police and protesters face off in Grant Park after protesters attempted to topple a Christopher Columbus Statue Friday. The protest had remained peaceful until this point

Police say that 49 officers were injured as protesters they blasted as ‘criminal agitators’ attempted to clear the area so they could try to tear down the monument. 

Chicago Police Superintendent David O. Brown claimed the protest descended into a ‘mob action’ that ‘deliberately sought to injure officers’. 

He added that members of the group could have been injured or killed if they have been successful in toppling the statue. 

‘This is what our officers faced on Friday night at Grant Park. Criminal agitators pelted fireworks, frozen water bottles and other projectiles at our officers, injuring 49 of them,’ Brown wrote on Twitter Monday. 

‘This is unacceptable and we cannot stand for this.’ 

Brown added that 12 people were arrested for charges including mob action, battery to a police officer and criminal damage to property.

source: dailymail.co.uk