Two people killed, 2 more wounded in a shooting at Auburn Gresham gas station

Police are seeking four assailants who gunned down a man and a woman and badly wounded two others early Thursday at an Auburn Gresham gas station.

The victims were standing outside the station at 7600 S. Halsted St. at 12:23 a.m. when someone started shooting. A 53-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man were killed, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. Both were pronounced dead at the University of Chicago Medical Center.

A woman, 35 and a man, 33, also were hit by gunfire and were in critical condition, police said. They also were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said. The four attackers fled south on foot through an alley.

Ald. David Moore (17th) told the Sun-Times his prayers were with the families of those killed and wounded, and he hopes the two surviving victims would recover.

The area near the gas station has been a focus for neighbors and police prior to Thursday’s shooting, Moore said. Police and gas station security have been working together to keep people off the property, though some activity has also taken place across the street.

“It’s definitely an area we have focused on,” Moore said.

Moore said the shooting investigation continues, but preliminary information suggests the attack appeared to be targeted. Asked if he knew whether the four people shot were relatives or friends but he said he doesn’t have that info yet.

Cook County Crime Stoppers announced a cash reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to an arrest in the mass shooting. Tipsters can remain anonymous.