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Chicago police continue to investigate after one person was killed and at least four others were wounded during a shooting early Wednesday morning at an outdoor gathering in West Englewood.

Speaking at a press conference highlighting the city’s violence prevention efforts during the Fourth of July weekend, Interim Police Superintendent Fred Waller said that more than 100 shell casings were recovered from the scene in the 5600 block of South Ada Street.

“We’re still investigating it to see if it was something internal or someone from outside shot into the crowd,” Waller said Wednesday. “When we have over 100 rounds of spent cartridges out, we know that that didn’t just come from one side.”

According to police, the shooting occurred at around 4:45 a.m. and at least five people were struck. A 35-year-old man was shot in the chest and died, while four other victims — a 27-year-old man, a 21-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man and a 29-year-old man — were all wounded and hospitalized.

A 21-year-old man was also beaten during the incident. Police initially indicated he too had died, but later clarified that he was alive and hospitalized in critical condition.

The gathering had reportedly gone on for several hours from Tuesday into Wednesday, and Waller admitted that “as far as hindsight, something more should have been done” about the group, but added that police are still looking into whether there were any complaints made prior to the shooting.

According to police figures, there were nine people killed across Chicago between Friday at 6 p.m. and Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. during a busy holiday weekend that included a large-scale NASCAR race downtown and torrential rain for much of Sunday. In total, 57 people were shot in 45 separate shooting incidents during that time.

“We will not tolerate this violence in our neighborhoods and we are doing everything that we can to reduce and prevent this trauma within our communities,” Waller said.

Eight people were killed and 60 others were wounded in shootings across Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend in 2022, though that was a three-day span compared to the four-day span this year.

Through the first half of 2023, Chicago recorded 301 murders — a 6% decrease from the first six months of 2022, according to police data — while the number of shootings declined more than 6% over that same period.

Waller said he “could not be more proud” of his officers, who had days off canceled over the holiday weekend.

“They showed up every day, on every watch ready to serve, protect and engage communities in every part of the city,” he said.

The city had planned to crack down on illegal fireworks displays over the weekend, but Chicago Fire Department officials reportedly blamed fireworks for a series of garage fires on the Southwest Side early Wednesday.

While Waller said his department does do “some things” to try and curb illegal firearm use, he added that those calls fall below other more serious emergency situations.

“We have to really gauge what we’re going to respond to as far as the fireworks,” he said.

Beyond the holiday festivities, Chicago also hosted a NASCAR race event downtown Sunday and faced significant rainfall and flooding across the city.

Jose Tirado, acting executive director of Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management & Communications, said city officials spent a year planning for additional crowds, increased traffic and public safety this past weekend.

“We believe that the hard work has paid off,” he said Wednesday. “Our top priority was always the safety of our residents and our visitors.”

Contact Matt Masterson: @ByMattMasterson | [email protected] | (773) 509-5431