The police tape was still flapping in the cold wind early Thursday morning on the 1100 block of Longwood Avenue. If you’ve ever walked through Morgan Park, you know it’s one of those South Side neighborhoods that usually feels a bit more tucked away, but last night, that changed. At around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, the silence was shattered by a hail of gunfire that left one man dead and two others fighting for their health.
It’s the kind of news that makes you stop and stare at your phone screen. Honestly, it’s heartbreaking. We’re only two weeks into the new year, and Chicago is already grappling with the reality of targeted violence in its residential pockets.
The details of the recent shooting in Chicago
This wasn't some random scuffle. According to the Chicago Police Department, officers arrived to find a chaotic scene centered around a white SUV. The vehicle was riddled with bullet holes—evidence of a high-volume shooting that didn't leave much to the imagination.
Inside or near that SUV, three men were hit. The first, a 28-year-old man, took a bullet to the lower back. He was rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, but the injuries were just too severe. He was pronounced dead shortly after.
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Then you have the other two victims. Another 28-year-old was hit multiple times and is currently in critical condition. A third man, also 28, was lucky enough to only be hit in the foot. He’s listed in good condition, but the mental scars of being inches away from death don't show up on a police report. Area Two detectives are currently combing through the ballistics, but so far? No arrests. No suspects in custody. Just a lot of questions and a neighborhood on edge.
Why this specific incident stands out
You’ve probably heard people say Chicago is getting safer. And technically, the data backs that up. Superintendent Larry Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson have been touting a 30% drop in homicides throughout 2025. Entering 2026, the city was coming off one of its least violent years in over a decade.
But when a recent shooting in Chicago happens in a place like Morgan Park—a neighborhood known more for its historic homes and "Ridge" feel than for nightly sirens—it rattles the narrative. It’s a reminder that "lower statistics" don't mean much to the family of a 28-year-old who isn't coming home tonight.
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- Targeted vs. Random: The damage to the SUV suggests this was a targeted hit.
- Location: 1100 block of Longwood is a residential stretch.
- The " Christ Hospital" factor: This hospital remains the primary trauma center for the South Side's most violent nights.
The broader picture of Chicago crime in 2026
It’s kinda complicated. If you look at the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s most recent analysis, the city is actually trending in a direction that most major metros would envy. Homicides dropped to roughly 14.6 per 100,000 residents last year. Compare that to places like St. Louis or Baltimore, and Chicago starts looking a lot more like a "normal" big city and less like the "war zone" depicted in national political rhetoric.
However, the "new" Chicago is facing different kinds of threats. Just this week, we’ve seen reports of a fatal stabbing on the CTA Pink Line and a bizarre case where a Chicago Police officer, Carlos Baker, is being sued by the family of his partner, Krystal Rivera, whom he fatally shot during a chase last year. It feels like for every step forward the city takes in reducing gang violence, a new institutional or transit-based safety issue pops up.
Basically, the "crime epidemic" narrative is being replaced by a "neighborhood-specific" reality. If you live in the Museum Campus or Forest Glen, you’re living in one of the safest urban environments in the country. But if you’re on the South or West sides, the threat of a drive-by or a targeted shooting like the one in Morgan Park is still a daily weight.
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Moving forward: What can actually be done?
People are tired of hearing "our thoughts are with the families." They want to see the 2026 budget—which Superintendent Snelling recently defended at $2.1 billion—actually translate into faster response times and higher clearance rates. Right now, the clearance rate for non-fatal shootings in Chicago remains frustratingly low.
There's also a growing push for "Violence Interrupters" on the CTA and in neighborhoods like Little Village and Morgan Park. These are former gang members and community leaders who try to stop the "retaliation cycle" before the next SUV gets targeted.
Next steps for residents and concerned citizens:
- Monitor the CPD Clear Map: You can actually track specific incidents in your district to see if there's a pattern of carjackings or shootings near your home.
- Engage with CAPS: The Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy meetings are often boring, but they are the only place where you can look a district commander in the eye and ask why the 1100 block of Longwood wasn't patrolled better.
- Support Victims' Families: Groups like Purpose Over Pain provide immediate resources for those who lose loved ones to gun violence.
The recent shooting in Chicago is a stark reminder that even as the city celebrates "historic lows" in crime, the work is nowhere near finished. It’s about more than just numbers; it’s about the fact that a Wednesday night in January shouldn’t end with a white SUV being towed away as a piece of evidence.
Stay alert, keep an eye on your neighbors, and don't let the statistics dull the reality of what's happening on the ground.