Police in Chicago and the suburbs of Evanston say at least four people are dead, including the gunman, and at least four others were seriously injured in a shooting in both cities on Saturday.
Police had originally reported that four victims had died in the shootings, but a woman who was shot at an IHOP restaurant in Evanston is still fighting for her life Sunday morning, according to an updated statement from authorities.
The man who police said was responsible for the shootings, identified as 32-year-old Jason Nightengale, was shot and killed in a shootout with police outside that Evanston restaurant, ending a string of murders that shocked the city.
The shooting began in block 5300 of South East End Avenue at approximately 1:50 PM on Saturday, when Nightengale entered a parking garage and fired shots at a 30-year-old man sitting in a vehicle.
That man, who was later confirmed as a student at the University of Chicago, was pronounced dead on the spot, according to Chicago police.
About 30 minutes later, Nightengale entered an apartment building on South East End Avenue’s 4900 block. He shot a woman who was serving as a guard at the building. She was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
Another woman, 77, was in the building to pick up her mail when she was hit by gunfire. She is in critical condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said.
The shooter then moved up East End Avenue to another building and drew a gun at a male victim, whom police say he knew. The man pushed the person into his apartment, demanded the keys to his car, and fled the scene in a red Toyota sedan.
At approximately 3:45 PM, the suspect drove to block 9300 of South Halsted Street and entered a retail location, where he announced a robbery. Police say he subsequently fired shots, punching a 20-year-old man in the head. That man was taken to Christ Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An 81-year-old woman in the store was shot in the back and neck and taken to Christ Hospital, where she is still in a critical condition.
At about 5:00 PM, the shooter struck again, this time shooting a 15-year-old girl driving a vehicle in block 10300 of South Halsted Street. The girl was hit on the head and taken to Comer Children’s Hospital, where she is in a critical condition.
Just five minutes later, Nightengale fired shots at a Chicago police car investigating the previous shooting at the CVS site, hitting the vehicle. Nobody was affected in that incident.
Nightengale then reportedly drove north to a CVS pharmacy near the Chicago-Evanston border, where he announced a robbery on Saturday night. After firing at least one shot there, hitting no one, he fled across the street to an IHOP restaurant.
Once inside, the shooter shot a woman in the head, according to Evanston police. According to authorities, she is in critical condition on Sunday morning.
Nightengale then fired at the Evanston police and they fired back. He was hit by gunfire several times and was transported to AMITA Health St. Francis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Police are still unclear on a motive in the case, and Chicago and Evanston police continue to investigate the shootings.