Two Shot During Bud Billiken Parade

Witnesses at the scene said the parade was still happening when the shooting took place

Two people were shot during the Bud Billiken Parade on Chicago's South Side Saturday afternoon, police said.

The shooting happened just after 12:30 p.m. in the 4200 block of South King Drive near the parade route, according to authorities.

An 18-year-old man was shot in the left arm, said Chicago Police News Affairs Officer Veejay Zala, citing preliminary information.

Chicago Fire Media Affairs says the man was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious but stable condition.

Police initially said only one person was shot during the incident but later said a 17-year-old man was shot in the hand and suffered a graze wound to the buttocks. He was taken to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in stable condition.

Witnesses at the scene said the parade was still happening when the shooting took place.

Police officers were seen pulling apart parade barriers and sprinting to the scene of the shooting.

The 85th Annual Bud Billiken parade stepped off at 10 a.m. Saturday and traveled south on King Drive from Oakwood Boulevard to 51st Street then down Ellsworth Drive from 51st Street to Garfield Boulevard.

Parade-goer and former Bud Billiken King Ted Bell said he was concerned the shooting would damage the parade's reputation.

"It’s one of the few staples that we have in the black community, African American community, where people can come out, enjoy themselves, bring their families, their children, just have a bunch of fun on a day and not have to worry about this type of thing," he said.

Further details on what prompted the shooting were not immediately available.

Police said no one was in custody for the shooting as of Saturday evening. Area Central detectives are investigating.

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