Hillcrest shooting: Man shot by multiple gunmen as he left high school with his son, according to Country Club Hills police

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, Ill. (WLS) – Police released more information Sunday after a fatal shooting outside a south suburban high school on Saturday.

The video in the player above is from a previous report.

A man and his son were leaving a basketball tournament at a high school in Country Club Hills on Saturday when a dark sedan approached them. Several armed men got out and shot the parent, police said Sunday.

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Prairie-Hills Elementary School District 144 told families that the Prairie Hills Junior High boys’ basketball team was participating in a tournament at Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills on the Saturday afternoon before the shooting.

The shooting occurred just before 1:30 p.m. in the school parking lot, the school district’s letter said.

A black Infinity Q50 with tinted windows approached the victim, who was leaving school with his young son, and blocked his path to his parked vehicle, Country Club Hills police said. Several gunmen exited the Infinity and began shooting at the man.

The victim was shot and taken to a hospital where he later died from his injuries, police said.

The perpetrators’ vehicle fled through the parking lot toward Pulaski Road.

The Cook County coroner confirmed there were fatalities in the shooting, but the victim’s identity has not yet been released. His son was not injured in the shooting, police said.

Bremen High School District 228, where Hillcrest High School is located, also sent a letter to families saying, “A parent who attended the game from a neighboring community was a victim of gun violence.” It described the shooting as “ a tragic incident.”

Witnesses also told ABC7 on Saturday that the basketball tournament had just ended when the parent was shot in the parking lot.

“A kid had a great game…he’s doing well, and now he’s turning his happiness and joy upside down to be with his family in the hospital,” said local activist Stringer Harris.

“It’s sad…this isn’t just my old high school…I’m a mentor here every week,” Harris said. “I am here at this school to teach about gun violence and it is sad to see something like this happen again here on this campus.”

The shooting came just a year after Hillcrest High School freshman Marshawn Mitchell was shot after a homecoming football game.

READ MORE | ‘They took my baby’: Hillcrest HS student shot while leaving homecoming football game

Harris said these acts of violence on campus are troubling students.

“Today I received messages from students saying they want to transfer from this school and I’m telling them that’s not a good idea,” Harris said. “It’s not the school that’s the problem. It’s not the kids who go to school… it’s always outside.”

The district’s letter said all players, coaches and staff at Prairie Hills Junior High are safe.

A district administrator will be available over the weekend and there will be counseling for students and staff after school resumes on Tuesday, the letter continued.

Further information was not immediately available.