Oct. 20--Calumet City police Tuesday were continuing to investigate a drive-by shooting that injured six people among a crowd of mourners who had just attended a funeral Monday.
The victims were men and women who ranged in age from 31 to the mid-40s, according to Calumet City police Chief Edward Gilmore, who said police think the shooting may have been gang-motivated.
The most seriously wounded person was airlifted to Stroger Hospital in Chicago, where he was recovering from six gunshot wounds, Gilmore said. The man's condition was upgraded from critical to serious, and police were able to interview him Tuesday, the chief said.
The other shooting victims suffered leg, hand and graze wounds, Gilmore said.
A seventh person who was running away from the gunfire fell and skinned his knee.
Gilmore said about 30 to 40 people had gathered at a home in the 300 block of Campbell Street. About 7:30 p.m. a vehicle drove by, and shots were fired at people who were outside the home, he said.
The people at the house had earlier attended a funeral for a man who had street gang ties but did not die in gang violence, Gilmore said.
Gilmore said police were not divulging additional details because of the ongoing investigation, which is being assisted by the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force.
Police initially reported that some of the mourners had become involved in an altercation at a liquor store shortly before the shooting. But Gilmore clarified that after further investigation, police say that the altercation actually took place about two weeks ago.
Clifford Ward is a freelance reporter.
