Nearby shooting sends Northwest Side elementary and middle schools into lockdown

A man was shot steps away from three Northwest Side elementary and middle schools Monday evening, prompting at least one school to go into a temporary lockdown, according to police and school officials.

About 4:20 p.m., a 23-year-old man was in a vehicle in the 4900 block of North Kedzie Avenue when he was shot in the upper chest, according to Chicago police. He was taken to Presence St. Francis Hospital in Evanston, where he was listed in good condition.

Hibbard Elementary, Edison Regional Gifted Center and Albany Park Multicultural Academy are all located within a few blocks of where the shooting happened, and some students were outside participating in activities and sports practices when the shots were fired.

Edison Regional Gifted Center Principal Karen Valentine said the school brought everyone on the grounds inside and placed the building on a soft lockdown, according to a message to parents and guardians obtained by the Sun-Times. Chicago police gave the all-clear to lift the lockdown shortly after and no students or staff members were injured.

“Please know that we will always take situations like this extremely seriously,” Valentine wrote. “If your child voices any fears or concerns to you about the lockdown, please let us know so we can provide them with social-emotional support.”