Efrain Cruz Fatally Shot In Humboldt Park, Prompting Police Chase, Car Crash

Humboldt Park Shooting Followed By Police Chase, Ending In Crash

Police launched into a car chase after a man was fatally shot in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood, causing a crash, though it was later determined that the car they followed was not connected to the shooting.

Efrain Cruz, 25, was shot in the chest and neck behind his home on West LeMoyne Street around 11:40 p.m. Thursday, and was pronounced dead at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital at 12:17 a.m., the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Police received a description of a gray SUV spotted near the scene, and began chasing a similar-looking vehicle at Division Street and California Avenue around 12:25 a.m. Friday.

During the pursuit, the SUV crashed into a squad car at North Avenue and Central Park Avenue, injuring three officers, and four people were taken into custody, the Chicago Tribune reports. The SUV is not believed to have been connected with the shooting, but police say the vehicle had been stolen.

Another man was fatally shot in Roseland Thursday night on Chicago's South Side. A 28-year-old man was shot in the head around 8 p.m. Thursday and died at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, according to Fox Chicago. A 47-year-old man was also wounded, and was taken to Roseland Community Hospital in critical condition.

A 54-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were also shot elsewhere in the city, and were taken to area hospitals, according to the Tribune.

Homicides are up 24 percent and shootings 10 percent in Chicago this year over last, according to the Sun-Times.

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