Early-Morning Shooting on the Dan Ryan Expressway

Three people were shot on the Dan Ryan Expressway shortly after 1 a.m., the third reported expressway shooting in the Chicago area this week.

One occupant of the car was shot in the abdomen, another suffered a graze wound to the head and the third was shot in the hip as they were headed south on I-94. They were treated at St. Bernard Hospital.

State Police said shell casings were recovered from the I-94 pavement between 43rd and 57th Streets, reports the Chicago Tribune. Eight bullet holes were seen in the white Chevy Impala carrying the victims.

The victims said the shots were random.

“We were on the expressway and they pulled up next to us and started shooting,” one of the victims told NBC Chicago. “We have no ties to these people, you know what I’m saying? It’s unnecessary. All the violence is unnecessary and it needs to be stopped.”

Police told NBC traffic was diverted to the express lanes between 43rd and 57th Streets until 4 a.m. All lanes are now open.

Recent expressway shootings include:

• on Monday, a man in his 20s was shot on the Dan Ryan at 3 a.m. near 31st Street
• a 1:30 a.m. shooting on Lake Shore Drive on Wednesday in which the victim said he did not know the shooter
• last week, a shooting was reported on the Eisenhower Expressway
• on May 21, an argument in downtown Chicago led to a shooting on the Bishop Ford Expressway, forcing State Police to shut down the highway for hours during the morning commute.

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