Sabotoge of Metra Electric Line

Sunday Night or Monday morning someone pulled 12 spikes out of the Metra Electric line near 103rd. It may be connected to the estranged spouse of an engineer who may have also fired shots at several trains. It is being investigated by the FBI.

In this video, Kim Vatis reports from th 51st street Hyde Park Metra station.

September 8th Playground shooting

More Hyde Park Violence

Fresh on the heels of the Friday night gang-related shooting west of Washington Park, two teens were shot at a playground just south of the University at 12:30 a.m. Saturday night. According to the Sun-Times, police have two "persons of interest" in custody related to the shooting, although no charges have yet been filed.
One of the victims, a 17-year-old boy, was shot in the neck and remains in critical condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The other, a 16-year-old girl, was shot in the leg and was listed in stable condition at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

There is no indication yet that the two incidents are linked.

September 7th Fatal Shooting in Washington Park

Fatal shooting in Washington Park

Three people are in custody following a Friday night gang-related shooting that killed an 18-year-old man and injured two others in Washington Park, which sits a few blocks west of Ratner Athletic Center and is a popular recreation spot.

The Sun Times reported today that South-Sider Cory Dillard, 18, was shot at around 8:30 p.m. at 57th Street and South Calumet Avenue, on the west side of Washington Park. Dillard died from his injuries at the U of C's Bernard Mitchell Hospital, where he was being treated.

A 26-year-old woman, also being treated at the U of C, is reportedly in good condition. Northwestern Memorial Hospital listed a third shooting victim in stable condition, according to the Sun Times.

The three suspects in custody have not been charged in connection with the incident.

Hyde Park Hero

A local mail carrier was honored recently as a hero by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

Debra Hamilton of Chicago, a member of NALC Chicago Branch 11, was named Central Region Hero for administering CPR to an unconscious traffic victim in January, 2006 as she was on her way to work delivering mail in Chicago’s Hyde Park section. When no pulse was detected, Hamilton, 37, ran to the trunk of her car and retrieved a pair of sweat pants and her bagged lunch. The carrier tucked the pants under the woman’s neck in order to clear the airway and used a sandwich bag from her lunch to create a protective barrier. As she administered CPR, the woman regained consciousness. Hamilton stayed with the victim until an emergency team arrived. Source

U of C connection to crime

Justin Sink talks about some historical links between the university and famous crime stories, including Al Capone and Leopold and Loeb.

Algonquin Apartment death in July

A second grisly death occurred at Algonquin Apartments. The body of Kirk Alexander, 46, was found outside Algonquin Apartments, a 14-story apartment building in the 1600 block of East Hyde Park Boulevard, in July. Alexander had fallen from the 10th floor. Blood was found around the window.
Body Found After Apparent Fall From High Rise

14 year old Hyde Park boy, Exzavia "Junebug" Washington, shot to death

A 14-year-old Hyde Park neighborhood boy was fatally shot while inside a car on the South Side Sunday night. The car’s driver, who was also shot, has reportedly been paralyzed from the waist down. No one was in custody for the slaying early Monday.

Xavier Washington, 14, of 6140 S. Kimbark Ave., was pronounced dead at 9:35 p.m. Sunday. The boy was shot at 5700 S. Wabash Ave., according to the medical examiner’s office.
The incident occurred about 9 p.m. as the two were traveling inside a car near South Wabash Avenue and 57th Street when someone outside the car shot him, according to a Wentworth Area detective.

After the two were shot, the car crashed, according to Wentworth District police. The driver, a male who is older than 14, was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was paralyzed from the waist down.

More about Exzavia

Three Men Beat, Rob Two Women In Hyde Park

Wentworth Area detectives issued an alert Wednesday after three armed men beat and robbed two women in the Hyde Park neighborhood on Labor Day.

The women were beaten and robbed in the vicinity of 5400 South Cornell Avenue about 11:45 p.m. Monday, according to a police alert.

The three black males, wanted for armed robbery, are believed to be between 17 and 21 years old. One is about 5-foot-6 and 135-140 pounds, the alert said. The second is described as 5-foot-8 and 160 pounds. A description of the third suspect was not available.

All three offenders were wearing white T-shirt s and dark pants, and were armed with chrome handguns.

Anyone with information should contact detectives at (312) 747-8382.