CHICAGO (CBS) – Jewish residents in a North Side neighborhood said they fear the shooting that preceded a shootout with police on Saturday may have been a hate crime.
Police said the suspect shot a 39-year-old man, then later turned the gun on police and paramedics . Officers then shot and critically injured the suspect.
Chicago police have not confirmed whether or not the initial shooting, in which the victim was hit in the shoulder, was a hate crime, but some neighbors speculated the victim was targeted because of his religion.
“A Jewish guy walking to synagogue, Saturday morning, Sabbath morning, it just, it doesn’t make sense,” said Abraham Trachtman, who lives in the West Ridge neighborhood.
Trachtman said there is a large Orthodox Jewish community in the area and he was headed to the local synagogue when his sister came running up to him.
“‘A Jewish guy was shot! A Jewish guy was shot!’ at 9:30 in the morning walking to synagogue, and right away I’m like, ‘Are the kids safe?'” Trachtman said.