URGENT UPDATE: An 18-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder following a shooting that left a man critically injured near the Little Village Academy Elementary School in Chicago. The incident, which occurred on October 31, 2023, at approximately 8:40 a.m., has sent shockwaves through the community, prompting heightened concerns among parents and educators.
Police have identified the suspect as Kaleb Ortega-Guardiola, who faces charges of attempted murder and aggravated battery after allegedly shooting a 31-year-old male victim in the head. The shooting took place just around the corner from the school, located at 2620 S. Lawndale Ave. According to authorities, the victim lost control of his vehicle after being shot and crashed into a parked car. He was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital in critical condition.
Witnesses reported hearing gunfire, prompting immediate lockdown procedures at the school. Maria Alarcon, a teacher at the academy, recounted how students and staff reacted: “We heard the shots before going into lockdown. I thought music would help to calm the atmosphere.”
Parents expressed frustration over the school’s communication during the crisis. Gigi Tolentino, whose daughter attends the school, stated, “We worry as parents. Better communication, like emails or calls, would have eased our concerns.”
Ortega-Guardiola was apprehended a few hours after the incident, with a detention hearing scheduled for Friday at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse.
This shooting incident raises urgent questions about safety in and around educational institutions, with community members demanding improved communication from school officials in times of crisis. As authorities continue to investigate, parents and residents are left to grapple with the emotional aftermath of this alarming event.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
