Three kids shot in Schaumburg drive-by

The grandfather of the 12- and 14-year-olds wounded by gunfire Wednesday night as they and a friend were crossing Bode Road in Schaumburg, said all three kids are now stable and out of danger.

The grandfather, who lives in the Salem Ridge apartment complex with his daughter and her two children, said his 12-year-old grandson, the most seriously wounded of the three, was improving.

"He can talk now, he's doing better," the grandfather said through an interpreter in the apartment complex office.

The 12-year-old boy, his 14-year-old sister and a 16-year-old friend were shot Wednesday around 8:30 p.m. as they crossed Bode Road from their Hoffman Estates complex to the 7-Eleven in the 900 block of Bode Road in Schaumburg. At least six shots were fired from a passing vehicle, hitting the 12-year-old boy in the torso and arm and the 16-year-old boy in the torso, lower abdomen and legs, police said. Another bullet grazed the leg of the 14-year-old girl.

The 12-year-old, whose condition was listed as critical a few hours ago, has been upgraded to serious, hospital spokeswoman Cyndi Alexander confirmed. The 16-year-old is listed in good condition and the 14-year-old was treated and released.

Police described the vehicle as possibly a gold extended-cab pickup truck, which left the scene after the shooting.

Schaumburg police Sgt. John Nebl said investigators still are questioning witnesses and looking for information.

Nebl said it was far too early to tell what the shooter's motive could have been.

"We are looking at every possibility," he said.

A spokeswoman for the 7-Eleven Corp. said after the shooting the youths ran into the convenience store, where workers hustled them into the back of the store while a customer called 911.

Margaret Chabris, spokeswoman for the 7-Eleven Corp., said the Bode Road store has three security cameras, one pointed at the door. She said they have turned over the film from all three cameras to police, but is skeptical they will yield much useful information, as the range of the door-pointed camera probably didn't extend to the street.

Police said the young people were walking from their homes in the Salem Ridge Apartments, on the Hoffman Estates side of Bode Road, to the strip mall - in Schaumburg - at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when someone in a vehicle on Bode Road opened fire.

Police said their information indicates the shooter or shooters may have gang affiliations. They added the 12- and 14-year-old do not have any known gang affiliation and they are continuing to check on the 16-year-old.

The 14- and 16-year-olds attend Schaumburg High School. Leanne Fanelli, chairwoman for the school's English as a Second Language department, has taught the 16-year-old for the last two years. The 100 students in the ESL program, who come from diverse backgrounds, including Spanish, Korean, Polish and Indian, were crafting cards and posters for the victims and plan on dropping off stuffed animals and balloons to the hospital.

The ESL students have offered baby-sitting to the family while they deal with this crisis.

"He is a very loving brother, always talking about his younger siblings," Fanelli said. The 16-year-old has a younger sister and brother.

The 16-year-old's family arrived from Mexico a couple years ago, and he's been diligent in improving his language skills, she said. Fanelli said he "has a very strong desire" to be the first in his family to attend college.

The teen has a good sense of humor without putting down any classmates, Fanelli added. The boy's parents are also very concerned about their son's academic progress.

"He is a wonderful student, I am very fortunate to be his teacher," she said. "I was very sad to not have him in class today."

Tom Petersen, spokesman for Palatine-Schaumburg High School District 211, said an extra police officer has been stationed at the school, but there's no danger or threat at the school at this time. Social workers are available for students.

The 12-year-old is a student in Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54, said spokeswoman Terri McHugh. She added that the district has not gone on lockdown, contrary to rumors.

Joe Mariano, a manager at Old Town Pizza, on the 900 block of Bode Road, said he heard five or six shots fired at the convenience store about 8:30 p.m.

A cook at the pizza store, Francisco Chagoya, said he knew the kids because they are regulars. "It's sad. It's like they are one of our family."

The apartment manager at Salem Ridge said she believes none of the victims are in gangs.

The shooting comes around two months after a Jan. 6 drug-related home invasion occurred just blocks north of the strip mall. One suspect in that case faces attempted first-degree murder charges, accused of firing at a police officer responding to the scene.

Parents picking up children from Helen Keller Junior High School in Schaumburg less than a block from the scene of the shooting reacted with surprise and calls for more police protection.

Hoffman Estates resident Karen Doroskin, who was picking up her 13-year-old daughter and her friend, said she had no idea that a shooting had occurred. "It's very frightening actually, really creepy."

Her daughter said school officials tried to reassure students that it was safe to go outside.

The principal, Sue Mayernick, declined to comment.

• Staff Writers Ashok Selvam, Marco Santana. Madhu Krishnamurthy and Matt Arado contributed to this report.

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