Chicago police said the gunfire erupted as officers were trying to disperse a large crowd gathered along South Cottage Grove Avenue.
CHICAGO — A 35-year-old man was killed and 14 other people were wounded after gunfire erupted late Saturday during several gatherings in Washington Park on the city’s South Side, according to Chicago police and updated local reports.
The shooting happened about 11:37 p.m. Aug. 29 in the 5400 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue, near 55th Street. Officers were already in the area and trying to disperse a large crowd when an unknown person or group began firing, police said. Authorities initially reported 10 people had been shot, including one fatally, but later identified five additional victims, raising the total to 15.
The man who died was identified by the Cook County medical examiner’s office as Rontonio M. Guterz of Chicago. Police said Guterz suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he died. Authorities had not announced an arrest or publicly identified a suspected shooter in the latest reports.
Among the 14 surviving victims, a 47-year-old woman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in serious condition. Four women, ages 21, 23, 43 and 44, were taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center and listed in fair condition, according to updated police information reported Sunday.
Six other victims were reported in good condition. They included a 34-year-old man, a 39-year-old man, a 40-year-old woman, a 45-year-old woman, a 26-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man. They were treated at hospitals including the University of Chicago Medical Center, Stroger Hospital and St. Bernard Hospital. Police said three additional victims — a 37-year-old woman and men ages 23 and 35 — were hospitalized, but their conditions were not immediately available.
No Chicago police officers were injured. Investigators spent Sunday working to determine who opened fire and what led to the shooting. Police had not publicly established how many shooters were involved or announced a motive. CBS Chicago reported that police radio traffic indicated officers detained a person and recovered a weapon during the response, but authorities had not publicly established that the detention or weapon was connected to the shooting. NBC Chicago reported that no suspects were in custody.
Several gatherings were underway in Washington Park when the shooting occurred, including a reunion involving former residents of the Robert Taylor Homes, a former public housing development on Chicago’s South Side. Ald. Jeanette Taylor, who represents the 20th Ward, told ABC7 Chicago that someone across the street from the park appeared to have fired toward the gathering. Police had not publicly confirmed that account as the definitive sequence of events.
Taylor said the people attending the reunion had gathered to spend time together and reconnect. Mayor Brandon Johnson also addressed the shooting Sunday, calling violence on that scale horrific and saying the city remained focused on removing illegal firearms and supporting communities affected by violence. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said law enforcement would work to hold those responsible accountable.
The revised casualty count represented a significant update from the first hours after the shooting. Early police information identified 10 victims — one dead and nine wounded — a figure reflected in initial news reports. By Sunday evening, police had located five additional women who had been injured, bringing the confirmed number of people shot to 15, including Guterz.
The shooting came as officers were responding to other violent incidents across Chicago during the weekend. Authorities have not announced evidence linking the Washington Park shooting to any other attack. Investigators continued canvassing the area and reviewing evidence as they sought to identify whoever fired into the crowd.
Cook County Crime Stoppers offered a reward of up to $10,000 for information leading to an arrest, CBS Chicago reported. No charges had been announced as of late Sunday, and the investigation remained active.
Author note: Last updated August 30, 2026.