Boys, 12 and 15, wounded in shooting: ‘They looked like babies’

Two boys were shot and wounded during a fight Thursday afternoon in the New City neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side.

James Moroney had just gotten home from work and was standing on his back porch when he saw a small group of young people standing across the alley in an empty lot in the 600 block of West 47th Street.

Shortly after, gunshots rang out and two of the boys, ages 12 and 15, were shot around 3:45 p.m., according to Chicago police.

Police said the boys were fighting with the rest of the group when someone from the group pulled out a gun and fired shots, but Moroney said he believed the shooter approached from around the empty lot and opened fire on the group. The group dispersed as the gunshots rang out.

The younger boy was shot in the chest, and the 15-year-old was shot in the hip, Chicago police said. Both were in critical condition at Comer Children’s Hospital.

Moroney ran across the alley to check on the boys and called 911, he said. Then he and two other men, who had been working nearby, used their hands to put pressure on the boys’ wounds until paramedics arrived.

“The only thing I thought about was how young they looked,” Moroney said. “They looked like babies. Neither one of them could have been over 125 pounds.”

Moroney said both boys had their eyes open but seemed “out of it.”

After they boys were taken to the hospital, Moroney stayed on his back porch as officers and detectives searched for evidence.

“I just hope they’re OK,” Moroney said

No one was custody and detectives are investigating.

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