CHICAGO (WLS) — Detectives in Area 3 have had an incredibly busy and violent weekend to deal with.
There were three shootings in four days, one of which was fatal, and all within a half mile of one another. While investigators don't believe they were connected, they must have sounded warning bells in the Lakeview neighborhood.
Speaking with ABC7 from his home Sunday, Matthew Hair and his father, Bill, shared what they know about William Hair's final moments.
“Absurd. That's the only word for it,” said Matthew, William's brother.
The 35-year-old man was shot and killed near Broadway and Surf at around 2:15 a.m. Friday after dropping a friend home from a nearby bar. According to them, it was an attempted robbery carried out by the occupants of a vehicle that stopped beside him.
“He was there with his best friend. They stopped, not having a chance to do anything. His best friend, thank God, was with him, and bravely tried to save his life, and did CPR, helped him breathe. My son is fighting for his life, but he's gone,” Bill said.
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Hair is one of five people shot over the past four days near or along the half-mile stretch of Broadway Avenue in Lakeview. The most recent shooting occurred last night, near Broadway and Barry, and injured three people.
Alderman Bennett Lawson, who represents the 44th Ward, said police had stepped up patrols in the area for the remainder of the holiday weekend.
But, are they enough? The 19th District fielded 200 officers from more than a decade ago.
“I'm concerned about the police force to cover not only our neighborhood, but our large-scale events. We also have Cubs weekend festivals and events. So, I'm concerned about those numbers,” Lawson said.
But, while the investigation into the three shootings continues, one family has been shattered.
“We all share friends. We both lived in Illinois our whole lives, and lived in Chicago for over a decade and spent many evenings together,” says Matthew. “I can't see my brother and my best friend anymore.”
They held on to their last moments together, and tried to honor William's memory as best they could.
“I try to do what my son wants me to do. He is the kind of person who will forgive him. I will do my best to remember him,” Bill said.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
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