A shocking incident unfolded on Tuesday morning at a Home Depot parking lot located at 87th Street and Lafayette Avenue in Chicago's West Chatham neighborhood. The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) reported that a woman was critically injured in a shooting and subsequent crash.

According to witnesses at the scene, an altercation over payment for a job turned violent, leading to gunfire in the busy strip mall entrance around 9:30 a.m. The witnesses stated that a suspect emerged from their vehicle and approached a Chevy Ram before opening fire.

"I was just here at 8 o'clock. When I come back at 12, I wasn't expecting craziness and police everywhere," shared Michael Benison, a general contractor who was present at the scene.

Tragically, a 41-year-old woman who was a passenger in the Chevy Ram sustained a gunshot wound to the head. Disturbingly, witnesses mentioned that a child was also present in the backseat during the incident.

As the shooting unfolded, the pickup truck crashed into a nearby Dollar Tree store, causing damage to the building. A stop sign was propelled into the structure upon impact, leaving employees and customers startled.

"I don't know what was going on. It just happened so fast, like 'crash,'" exclaimed Laquita Oatis, an employee at Dollar Tree.

Recounting the chaotic events, Oatis added, "I was ringing somebody up, and then, all of a sudden, it was like 'boom!' So, when I looked, I'm like, 'oh, a car is going to come into the window.' My heart was beating fast."

The incident highlights the unsettling reality of the times, according to nearby general contractor Michael Benison. He remarked on the diverse mix of individuals seeking work and regularly visiting the shopping center, including Home Depot.

"You have all types of people trying to find work, and people obviously going back-and-forth to Home Depot every day," Benison lamented. "To hear that, it's ultimately just a sign of the current times, I guess."

The 41-year-old victim was immediately transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where medical professionals are working tirelessly to provide urgent care and treatment.

Law enforcement officials are actively investigating the shooting and crash, hoping to establish the motive behind the violence and bring the perpetrator to justice. Further updates on the incident are expected as the investigation unfolds.

This unfortunate incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased community vigilance and efforts to curb violence, ensuring the safety and well-being of residents in Chicago's neighborhoods.