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Looking east toward the neighborhood where a drive-by shooting occurred Friday night just after 8:00 p.m., and from where Mount Prospect police officers blocked the access road between Jewel and Home Depot at Randhurst property.
Mount Prospect police and firefighter/paramedics responded just after 8:00 p.m. Friday to a drive-by shooting on the 1100 to 1200 block of Boxwood. According to neighbors, the shooting occurred on the street as gang members who are believed to be from Palatine drove by and fired multiple shots. One person said he heard that a young boy was grazed across the cheek. Mount Prospect Fire Department firefighter/paramedics were dispatched to the scene on Boxwood to treat a six-year-old male shooting victim. Later it was learned that the victim was eight year-old Ader Torres. The gang members that shot out of their cars implied that they were Latin Kings by yelling ‘Crown’ before they fired their shots. The eight-year-old was transported to a local hospital by Mount Prospect Fire Department.
Mount Prospect police alerted area police departments that three vehicles were suspected to be involved in the drive-by shooting. The offending vehicles were described as a Ford Escort, a Buick LeSabre and an SUV. Two of the vehicles fled eastbound on Euclid Avenue. Some neighbors believe the shooting followed gang graffiti that was written recently on buildings near Boxwood and Dogwood as gang members cased out the neighborhood in the middle of the night earlier this week. Some neighborhood residents also believe that the shooting was related to revenge for the stabbing death of Eduardo Garcia from gang members that live in Palatine. Neighbors warned that the gangs that visited the neighborhood don’t care who they shoot or kill. Some neighbors came home from work to learn about the shooting. They fear innocent children being hit by bullets or becoming involved in gangs.
Rolling Meadows resident Eduardo Garcia was stabbed and killed on Thursday March 25, 2010 by a 15-year-old male, who police say was beaten severely and acted in self-defense. Garcia had attended Hersey High School but transferred to Fremd High School. Some believe Friday night’s shooting on Boxwood Drive is related to Garcia’s death.
Mount Prospect police officers and detectives were on the scene and canvassing the area apartments. Mount Prospect police also blocked part of the circle access drive around Randhurst Shopping Center on the northeast side of the property. People leaving Jewel were not allowed to drive south toward Home Depot on the east side of the Randhurst property.
UPDATE: A report of shots fired that occurred at 3:45 a.m. Saturday after the shooting were investigated and turned out to be bottle rockets.
Mount Prospect Police Department is asking people with information about the shooting to call the police line at 847-870-5654 or leave an anonymous tip at the police CrimeLine at 847-870-5649.
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FOLLOWUP from Daily Herald …