2 Killed In West Side Church Steps Shooting

CHICAGO, IL — An usher and another man were fatally shot Sunday morning on the steps of a West Side church. Emmanuel Fleming, 34, and Michael Swift, a 46-year-old visitor to the church, were taken to local hospitals, where they were pronounced dead, according to the Chicago Tribune. Witnesses say Fleming yelled for his children to take cover inside the church as the gunmen approached, the report added.

The shooting occurred at about 11:15 a.m. at the Friendship Baptist Church, 5200 W. Jackson Blvd., in the South Austin neighbor. The attackers wore bandanas and advanced on Fleming — who police believe to be the target of the shooting, according to NBC 5 Chicago — as he and Swift were climbing the steps to enter the church, the Tribune reports. The gunmen then opened fire.

Fleming and Swift tried to get behind a nearby retaining wall and were shot multiple times, the report stated. Fleming was sent to Stroger Hospital following the shooting, and Swift was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital. No one else was injured in the attack, and Fleming's children were able to safely make it unharmed into the church, the report added. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for the West Side and Chicago — or other neighborhoods. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.

Police said the attackers fled the scene in what they believe to be a gray or silver Toyota Rav 4 SUV and drove south. On Monday afternoon, Chicago police sent out an alert about the vehicle and asked the public to pass along information about it.

"If the vehicle is observed, do not approach or attempt to detain," the alert stated. "Call 911 with any pertinent information regarding this vehicle."

The Rev. Reginald Bachus told the Tribune that a vigil would probably be held at the church Monday.

More via the Chicago Tribune

Photo via Shutterstock

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