Father watching television in Woodlawn home slain when fight between rival groups leads to gunfire: police

A man was fatally shot inside a Woodlawn home Monday night after his relative’s boyfriend “antagonized” rivals, causing a hail of bullets, according to Chicago police.

The man, 55, was sitting on a couch watching TV in the 6600 block of South St. Lawrence Avenue about 8 p.m. when his relative’s boyfriend began arguing with someone out in front of the home, according to police reports obtained by the Sun-Times.

Then more than two dozen shots rang out and one round smashed through a front window, hitting him in the neck and killing the 55-year-old man, the report said. No one else was shot.

According to the report, the boyfriend — who on Sunday was “antagonizing” rivals on the telephone — began to provoke them again on Monday, calling for them to “pull up” to the home, which they did, leading to the deadly attack.

The still-unidentified man was shot in the chest and taken to University of Chicago Medical Center where he later died.

The suspects fled the scene and no one is in custody.

The block where the shooting took place was quiet Tuesday morning as rain dripped on the street. The crime scene was cleared and no police tape or evidence markers were left from the investigation, but the front window of the home was broken and there appeared to be a bullet hole piercing the top of it.

Steven Jackson, who lives on the block, said he knew the 55-year-old man from school and heard the shooting. He later saw bullet casings in the street, he said.

Another home on the block was the subject of a home invasion last week, according to police. At least one of two suspects fired shots before entering the home, where two girls were inside. The suspects took unspecified items from the home and left. No injuries were reported.

In light of the violence, Jackson said he and his neighbors have been on edge, and he worries about the safety of the residents, especially after Monday’s fatal attack.

“Good thing kids weren’t out here; they could have been hit,” he said. “What can we do to get some security around here?”

Contributing: Mohammad Samra