Kevin Patel, a 28-year-old Indian-American man, was shot and killed in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighbourhood on Wednesday night, prompting renewed concerns over safety and demands for increased police presence in the area.
According to the Chicago Police Department, the fatal shooting occurred around 9:20 pm in the 800 block of West Lill Avenue—just steps away from the office of 43rd Ward Alderman Timmy Knudsen. Responding officers found Patel lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was rushed to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed his identity.
Eyewitnesses told police they saw a man and a woman fleeing the scene before law enforcement arrived. No arrests have been made so far. The case is currently under investigation by Area Three detectives.
The shooting has deeply shaken local residents. Garrett Moores, a neighbour who was among the first to assist Patel, recalled the desperate moments as he performed chest compressions, guided by a 911 operator. “You almost build a personal connection in those moments. It was devastating,” he said.
Another resident, Sophia Matheson, described the trauma of witnessing the aftermath of the shooting. “It’s the closest physically I’ve ever been to a death… just a realization of how quickly it can be taken away from you.”
In a statement, Alderman Knudsen acknowledged the growing concerns over violence in the city. “This is yet another reminder of the work we have to do as a City to combat violence… I’ve asked the 19th District to increase patrols in the area,” he said.
As the investigation continues, the incident has reignited conversations about public safety in one of Chicago’s most frequented neighborhoods.