Evanston Woman Struck By Stray Bullet While Walking Dog: Police

EVANSTON, IL — A woman was shot in the leg Wednesday while walking her dog in south Evanston, police said. A teenager found with a gun nearby was taken into custody, and police do not believe she was intentionally targeted in the shooting.

Around 9 p.m., the 46-year-old Evanston resident saw a car pull up and start shooting near the intersection of Sherman Avenue and Madison Street, according to Cmdr. Ryan Glew. She felt pain in her leg and realized she had been shot.

"We don't have any indication this woman was a target," Glew said. "Probably a bullet intended for someone else or a part of another incident that she was not involved in."

The woman and her dog managed to make it back her her house a few blocks away, Glew said, where her spouse provided first aid before Evanston Fire Department paramedics arrived to take her to the hospital for treatment of her injuries, which were not considered to be life-threatening.

Officers found six 9mm shell casings in the area, according to Glew. Police got multiple calls of gunfire in the area but do not yet have a description of a suspect vehicle to share.

Nobody has been charged in connection with the shootings, but police took a 17-year-old boy from Des Plaines into custody after he was found with a 9mm handgun in the immediate vicinity of the incident, Glew said. He has been charged as a juvenile.

The teen's involvement in the incident was not immediately clear — whether he was the target of the shooting, a shooter or arrested in a very unlikely coincidence, Glew said.

Anyone with information about the incident may contact detectives from the Evanston Police Department at 847-866-5040 or text a tip to 274637 — "CRIMES" — and start your message with "EPDTIP."