Key Points
A Halloween paintball attack in the Clearing West neighborhood left 19-year-old Vicky Murillo blind in one eye.
Murillo and her friend were allegedly targeted by a group in a car, who shot multiple high-powered paintballs at them.
Other residents reported similar attacks on the same night, leading to concerns over the intent and pattern of these assaults.
Details of the Attack
On Halloween night, Vicky Murillo and her friend were walking in Chicago's Clearing West community when they noticed a car following them. According to reports, the car made a U-turn, returned to where they were, and then opened fire with a high-powered paintball gun.
Witnesses say the group driving the car had cell phones out, recording the attack as paintballs struck Murillo and her friend multiple times. Murillo's brother, Adrean, described the distressing scene to local news, saying, “They were both on the floor, crying and screaming, their hot chocolate next to them on the floor.”
Serious Injuries and Uncertain Recovery
Murillo sustained severe injuries, with one paintball hitting her directly in the eye and rupturing her eye globe. She was immediately taken to the hospital and went through emergency surgery.
However, doctors are doubtful that her vision will return, and Adrean stated, “If there’s any vision restored to that eye, it’s going to be extremely blurry.” The family has set up a GoFundMe to assist with medical expenses as Murillo faces several more surgeries with uncertain outcomes.
Multiple Victims and Malicious Intent
The paintball attack on Murillo and her friend appears to be part of a series of similar incidents that occurred in the area that night. Neighbors in the Clearing West community reported experiencing similar attacks, and video footage posted online shows a group in a car firing paintballs at unsuspecting victims across several Chicago neighborhoods.
One video obtained by CBS Chicago shows the perpetrators firing at a person waiting at a bus stop, who attempted to dodge the shots. Based on the videos and descriptions, Adrean believes that the same car was involved in multiple attacks and that the group had a clear intent to harm. “It was malicious. They knew what they were doing,” he said. “They went out that day specifically for that reason.”
Community Concerns and Investigation
The random and aggressive nature of these attacks has raised safety concerns in the community, with residents questioning why young women and other unsuspecting individuals were specifically targeted.
Murillo’s family and local authorities are working to gather more information, and community members are urged to report any further sightings or incidents. Local police are investigating, and the Chicago community remains on alert as authorities search for those responsible for the Halloween attacks.
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