CHICAGO (WLS) — A Chicago Special Olympian is recovering after being shot in the calf on Tuesday morning.
The 18-year-old victim lives with autism and other conditions.
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His parents say he has been shielded from the violence of Chicago until Tuesday, when went outside to catch the bus to school.
Chicago police were called to the 7800-block of South Carpenter Street in Auburn Gresham after someone fired shots at 7:24 a.m.
Surveillance video of the scene shows the victim trying to escape the gunfire. ABC7 has blurred him to protect his identity.
“He’s done no wrong. My son hasn’t hurt anybody, and he doesn’t deserve to be shot at,” his mother said.
According to his parents, who preferred to remain anonymous, their child is a student with special needs and has various conditions, one of which is being on the autism spectrum.
“We’ve been struggling to find ways to support our son in coping with his conditions. It’s heartbreaking to see him targeted when he has never harmed anyone,” expressed his mother.
They said their son has had a lifetime of testing, treatments and therapies, and now, he has become a victim of violence.
The teen, who has competed in Special Olympics Illinois for basketball, was taken to a local hospital with a gunshot wound to his calf.
“It’s a dreadful situation because our son is entirely innocent. All he desires is to attend school. This morning, all he wanted was to go to school,” said his father.
Other bullets went into homes on the block and a car, and at that time of day, others could have been hurt.
“Bullets don’t have no names, don’t have no names at all. It’s sad,” said neighbor Jonathan Hannah.
“Shooting at innocent bystanders, young teens, for what reason?” the victim’s father said.
“I devoted my whole life to taking care of my son, and you come into his life and shake up his world like this. How could you live with yourself? Stop the violence. You’re hurting families,” the victim’s mother said.
The teen’s mom says she prayed with her son before school on Tuesday, as has been their morning routine. Now, she says she prays for whoever did this find the courage to do the right thing and turn themselves in.
Chicago police continue to investigate.
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