Two men charged in connection with Chicago shooting that wounded 13
REUTERS
FIRST POSTED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 04:18 AM EDT | UPDATED: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 04:25 AM EDT
Tanya Burch from Chicago, wipes away tears and holds a picture of her son Deontae Smith as Shundra Robinson, also of Chicago, talks about the shooting death of her son Deno Wooldridge at a news conference with family members of gun violence victims at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, September 18, 2013. (REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)
CHICAGO - Two men were charged in connection with a shooting at a Chicago park last week that left 13 people wounded including a 3-year-old boy, but neither are believed to have been a gunman, Chicago police said on Monday.
Byron Champ, 21, and Kewane Gatewood, 20, were charged with three counts of attempted murder and aggravated battery with a firearm, police said in a written statement.
Police said they do not believe either of the men were the gunman who fired into a crowd gathered to watch a basketball game using an assault-style weapon last Thursday.
The relationship between the two men who were charged and the shooter is unclear.
Chicago police "hold the criminals who committed this senseless act of violence last Thursday night responsible for their actions," Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said in the statement.
"These charges are just the beginning, and this investigation remains ongoing at this time," McCarthy said.
Champ, a documented gang member, was convicted of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon in July 2012 and sentenced to boot camp at a Cook County facility, police said.
