A fatal shooting in Uptown this week is fueling concerns about gang violence in the North Side neighborhood, with the alderman calling on police to step up patrols.
Christopher McGee, 22, was shot in the chest around 11 a.m. Monday a block north of his home in the 4400 block of North Magnolia Avenue, authorities said. McGee was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead, according to officials.
The shooting marks Uptown's third homicide of the year, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
Ald. James Cappleman (46th) said in a statement emailed to constituents Monday afternoon that the shooting was gang-related.
Cappleman said he has requested that police officers from the 19th District, which encompasses parts of Uptown, increase their presence in the area, which is a few blocks from the CTA's Wilson Avenue Red Line Station.
Chicago police did not comment on the request.
Cappelman added in his note: "While more police presence helps curb crime, it's not enough. We need to do more and offer more alternatives for our youth in our community," he said.
Cappleman said he is organizing a "youth forum" with the help of local youth and community organizations. He said these groups will create a "plan of action" to address the needs of Uptown's at-risk youth later this year.
He also invited readers to attend his ward's open office hours from 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays to discuss efforts to further curb youth and gang violence.
September can be a time of increased gang activity, according to police officials, because the beginning of a new school year is sometimes accompanied by gang initiations and gun violence.
Uptown has seen several shootings this summer, including a Racine Avenue drive-by that left three wounded, a July homicide and an August shooting near Clarendon Park that police officials also said was gang-related.
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