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CHICAGO (SUN TIMES WIRE) - Three people were killed — including a Chicago Public Schools employee — and 10 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago on Thursday.
The latest fatal shooting happened at 9:15 p.m. in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side, according to Chicago Police.
Victor Robinson, 31, was sitting on a porch in the 5700 block of South Peoria when a Dodge Challenger drove past and loud reports were heard, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office. When police arrived on the scene, they found him on the ground and unresponsive.
Robinson, who was shot in the head, was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 10:13 p.m., authorities said. He lived in the 6200 block of South Eberhart.
About 4:05 p.m., 20-year-old Demetrus Archer was sitting in a chair on the sidewalk in the 7800 block of South East End when a white SUV pulled up and someone exited the vehicle, stood over him and fired shots, according to police and the medical examiner’s office.
Archer suffered multiple gunshot wounds to the torso and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 5:40 p.m., authorities said. He lived in the 1700 block of East 77th Street.
A Chicago Public Schools employee was shot to death about 12:30 p.m. outside an elementary school in the West Side Austin neighborhood, authorities said.
Denzel D. Thornton, 25, was getting into a parked vehicle in the 4800 block of West Walton when someone walked up and shot him in the head, police and the medical examiner’s office said. The shooter then ran to a black car nearby and drove away.
The shooting occurred in front of Ronald McNair Elementary School, located at 4820 W. Walton St. Thornton worked as a compliance specialist for CPS Nutrition Services for the past 10 months, and was making his regular rounds at the time, according to a statement from CPS.
Thornton, of the 800 block of West Buena, was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:38 p.m., the medical examiner’s office said.
McNair’s families received an automated call shortly after the shooting, saying, “Attention McNair Families. This is an important message from Chicago Public Schools. The Chicago Police Department is currently investigating an incident that took place outside our school today. No McNair students were injured as a result of this incident, however students may have questions or be upset by what happened. The CPS Crisis Support Team will be at school tomorrow to provide assistance to any students needing support, as well as an increased presence from CPS Safety and Security. We will continue to update you as we learn more, and thank you.”
The school’s 8th grade student graduation was scheduled for later Thursday afternoon and took place as planned.
“On behalf of all of Chicago Public Schools, we were devastated to learn today about the tragic death of one of our employees,” CPS CEO Forrest Claypool said in the statement. “Denzel Thornton was a member of our Nutrition Services team, and like many CPS employees, he worked hard every day to serve our children. Even in challenging circumstances, CPS employees are extraordinarily dedicated to the students we serve, and I have the deepest respect for their commitment and hard work. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the friends and family of Denzel Thornton, and we will all keep them in our thoughts and prayers.”
The most recent nonfatal shooting happened at 11:20 p.m. in Humboldt Park. A female, whose age was not known early Friday, was shot in the foot in the 700 block of North St. Louis. Additional details were not available.
About 10:30 p.m., a 22-year-old man was walking on the sidewalk in the 11700 block of South Peoria when a male walked up from behind and shot him in the left leg, according to police. He was taken to Christ Medical Center, where his condition was stabilized.
Eight other people were wounded in shootings Thursday.