Police said a gunman fired toward an occupied vehicle before running into a residential building near a youth center.
CHICAGO, IL — A large police and SWAT response on the South Side ended late Monday with no arrest after Chicago police said a male suspect fired shots toward an occupied vehicle in South Shore and ran into a residential building.
The response drew officers to the 7600 block of South Essex Avenue, near the Rebecca K. Crown Youth Center, after the shooting was reported about 1:45 p.m. Monday. Police said the suspect fled into a residential building after firing toward the vehicle. Officers and SWAT teams remained in the area for hours as investigators worked to determine whether the suspect was still inside.
The scene unfolded in the South Shore neighborhood, where police blocked parts of the area while tactical units responded. Chicago police said the first call involved shots fired toward a vehicle with someone inside. The person accused of firing the shots was described only as a male suspect. Officials did not immediately release his name, age or a detailed description. Police also did not say whether the person inside the vehicle was injured.
By late Monday night, police said the SWAT situation had ended. No one was found inside the building, and no one was in custody. Area Two detectives took over the investigation. Authorities did not immediately say whether officers recovered a firearm, found shell casings or identified the vehicle that had been targeted. The exact number of shots fired also was not released.
The response came days after a separate police-involved shooting on the South Side injured two Chicago police officers and a suspect near South Chappel Avenue and East 79th Street. In that case, police said officers were conducting a traffic stop when a suspect fled, struggled with officers and fired a gun. One officer was struck in the vest, another was shot in the arm, and the suspect was shot. Police later identified the suspect in that case as Malik Wrightsell, 34, of Chicago, and said he faced multiple felony charges, including attempted first-degree murder.
Monday’s South Shore case remained less clear. Police described the Essex Avenue incident as a shooting followed by a barricade-style response, but the search ended without officers finding the suspect in the building. Investigators were expected to review witness accounts, police radio traffic and any available surveillance video from the block and nearby properties. No court date had been set because no arrest had been announced.
The 7600 block of South Essex Avenue is a residential stretch near schools, youth services and lakefront South Shore corridors. The police presence lasted into the evening, with squad cars and tactical personnel holding the area while residents waited for the scene to clear. Officials did not release any statements from residents or witnesses by late Monday.
Area Two detectives continued investigating Monday night after the SWAT response ended. Police had not announced an arrest, suspect description or injury count by the latest update.
Author note: Last updated Tuesday, July 7, 2026.