La Grange police find possible connection between shooting victims, area gangs

LA GRANGE – La Grange police investigators are running down leads and making new connections in their investigations into two recent shootings on the village's east side.

According to Investigator Robert Wardlaw, the two shootings are showing signs that they were related and that the victims may have ties to area gangs.

"It's all of concern to us," Wardlaw said. "We're looking into gangs that might be involved."

A 16-year-old was shot in the leg Nov. 21 in the area near Calendar and Sawyer avenues. Police responded to the area after receiving a report of shots fired, but could not locate anyone. They later learned the teen was shot after he went to La Grange Memorial Hospital seeking treatment for a gunshot wound.

On Jan. 26, police responded to multiple reports of shots fired in the zero to 100 block of Washington Avenue, about two blocks from the Nov. 21 shooting. When police arrived, they found a 22-year-old man shot in the abdomen, and he was taken to Loyola University Hospital in Maywood for surgery and released that night.

[ Investigators, on Jan. 30, said they were continuing to investigate the shootings separately and had no evidence they were connected or gang related. ]

On Friday, investigators said new evidence and leads pointed to a possible connection between the two victims and that there was evidence that both shootings were related to gang activity.

"We're trying to get more confirmation," Wardlaw said. "We're having issues, too, if it's a specific to a gang. It's hard to say.

"At this point, we believe we've linked the two [cases] together."

Wardlaw said that the victims in both cases have continued to be uncooperative with police. Police have tried to make contact with the 22-year-old victim multiple times since the shooting, but he had not responded.

Both men have connections to area street gangs, Wardlaw said. He added it was still unclear the degree to which the shootings were connected to street gangs.

Police said the community has helped their investigation. Tips from residents have given them more to work on in both cases and they are continuing to follow up on those leads. Wardlaw said that the department welcomed tips and reports from residents, no matter how small, and said they could be given to police anonymously.

Police note increased signs of gang activity

Police noted a small increase in gang activity in the area around the shootings since the second shooting was reported.

A La Grange police officer was flagged down Jan. 29 by a resident who reported that on Jan. 28 a white Jeep drove down the zero to 100 block of Washington Avenue with someone shouting "King Love" out the window. The phrase is a known slogan of the Latin Kings street gang.

Two incidents of graffiti, which police said were gang related, were reported Feb. 5. Gang graffiti was reported at 7:42 a.m. Feb. 5 on a building in the 200 block of Washington Avenue and at 7:53 a.m. on a vacant building that once housed a church in the 200 block of Sawyer Avenue.

Wardlaw said the department was still attempting to connect the graffiti with a specific gang.

Police confirm increased reports from residents, patrols in area

Analysis of La Grange police reports Friday showed an increase in the number of reports coming from the area of the shooting. Wardlaw said the department has seen a slight increase in the number of reports they are receiving from residents in the neighborhood.

In addition, Wardlaw said the department has continued its increased patrol presence in the area.

Wardlaw said that La Grange investigators remain as the lead investigators in both cases, but that the department has received assistance from the Major Case Assistance Team and from the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force. Both organizations use detectives from area police departments with major investigations, Wardlaw said.

Police request tips

The La Grange Police Department is requesting anyone with information on either shooting to contact investigators, which can be done anonymously.

Information can be provided through the La Grange Police Department's tip line at 708-579-0688.

Investigator Wardlaw can be reached directly by calling 708-579-2334 ext. 2253.

Police added that residents should report any suspicious persons, vehicles or circumstances to police immediately, no matter how small they appear to be.