Nothing new in shooting case, Schaumburg police say

Schaumburg police Friday reported no breaks in their investigation of the shooting of three Hoffman Estates children crossing Bode Road Wednesday night.

Among the things detectives are looking into is the possibility that an altercation between a group of kids that included the victims and another boy who didn't live in the same apartment complex might have triggered the incident about half an hour later.

One of the victims, a 14-year-old girl, was released from St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates after being treated for a graze wound. Her 12-year-old brother remained in serious condition and her 16-year-old boyfriend in good condition Friday.

They had left the Salem Ridge apartment complex where they lived at the corner of Bode and Salem roads and were crossing the street to a 7-Eleven in Schaumburg when they were shot at from a vehicle described as a gold extended-cab pickup truck.

Police Sgt. John Nebl said the Schaumburg department was fielding numerous tips regarding yellow and gold-colored pickup trucks.

Police Chief Brian Howerton said earlier the three victims were returning to their apartment complex with a group of people who had been playing soccer at nearby Enders-Salk School when they were confronted by a boy who was disliked by the group. An altercation ensued, but Howerton would not say what it was about or whether it became physical. The boy was asked to leave and rode off on his bicycle.

Howerton said he can remember only one previous drive-by shooting in Schaumburg in which a person was actually hit. He said it occurred about five or six years ago near the far western edge of the village by the intersection of Knollwood Drive and Brent Court.