A person has been killed and six are injured after a horrifying shootout between rival gangs in a Chicago park.
Police have confirmed that multiple shots were fired in Washington Park, shortly before 8pm on Tuesday night, close to the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Emergency services rushed to the scene on East 51st Street and South Champlain Avenue with paramedics taking the victims to hospital.
One person has been confirmed dead and six people are being treated in hospital with their condition unknown.
An investigation has now been launched with police saying that they believe that the shooting began due to an argument between two groups in the park.
Deputy chief Brad Melaen said that all the victims were adults but did not reveal names or ages.
He said: “At approximately 7.46pm there was a call of shots fired at Washington Park, the investigation revealed that there were two groups in Washington Park, some kind of personal altercation between the two groups.
"Multiple shots were fired at that time. At this point in the investigation we have seven victims, one, however, is deceased.”
Police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward and also said that there is a $15,000 reward for information.
“It is another tragic incident. We hope that if we have any witnesses out there that they contact Area 1 and just remind you all that we have the tip hotline $15,000 reward,” said Dep chief Melaen.
In the recent violence to hit Chicago, last weekend six people were killed in gun violence and 28 were injured including seven teenagers.
About a third of the shootings happened in two neighbouring police districts on the South Side that cover the neighbourhoods of Woodlawn, South Shore, Grand Crossing, Chatham and Auburn Gresham, according to police data.
Gun violence and especially the repetition of mass shooting has meant the ownership of high-calibre weapons has become a hotly disputed topic in the United States.
