Chicago Shooting of Evanston Man May Be Gang-Related, Police Say

Evanston police say the shooting death of Blake Ross, 20, a former Evanston Township High School student who was killed on the south side of Chicago, may be tied to ongoing, gang-related violence in Evanston.

Ross, who lived in the 2300 block of Greenwood Street in Evanston, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. He was killed in the 2800 block of E. 76th Street in Chicago, near Rainbow Beach Park. 

Evanston Police Cmdr. Jason Parrott said Ross may have been an "intended target” in a May 7 shooting near the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St.

Police questioned four people after the shooting, including Ross, but he did not provide any information to police, according to Parrott. No injuries were reported to police, and no victims came forward.

Parrott said Ross's name had also come up as a suspect in the investigation of recent shootings in Evanston, although he declined to identify which shooting, in particular, Ross might have been connected with.

A spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department told Patch Thursday that they are considering the shooting a homicide. He also said police do not yet have any suspects.

Parrott said the Evanston Police Department is cooperating with Chicago Police in the investigation of Ross's death.

Related Coverage

• Police Question Several After Shots Fired Near Fleetwood-Jourdain

Editor's Note: This story was updated with further information from the police department at 2 p.m. Thursday.