Two people were shot and killed inside an Austin neighborhood basement on Chicago’s West Side late Thursday night, according to Chicago police statements reported by ABC7 Chicago. Officers took a suspect into custody at the scene following the 10:40 p.m. incident on the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue.
Shooting Investigation and Arrest on North Parkside Avenue
According to Chicago police, a witness heard gunshots originating from a basement on the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue and alerted authorities at approximately 10:40 p.m. on Thursday. Police identified the victims as 27-year-old Deangelo Johnson and 47-year-old Angela Johnson. Both sustained fatal gunshot wounds and were transported to local hospitals, where medical personnel pronounced them dead.
Officers arrested Wendy Baptisme, 36, at the scene of the shooting. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office stated that the suspect and both victims resided on the same block where the attack occurred. On Saturday, police formally charged Baptisme with two counts of first-degree murder.
Neighborhood Context and Safety History
The double homicide adds to a troubling pattern of gun violence on North Parkside Avenue. According to CBS News reporting cited by Hoodline, a 79-year-old man sitting in a parked car on the exact same block was shot in the face by two to three gunmen in March. The 800 block falls under the jurisdiction of the Chicago Police Department’s 15th District, with homicide investigations managed by Area 4 Detectives based out of their Harrison Street headquarters.
While the Austin community has experienced repeated shootings over recent weeks—including the critical wounding of a 14-year-old girl on South Laramie Avenue and the fatal shooting of 20-year-old Jerome Kirk on Lamon Avenue—citywide homicide totals remain near historic lows. Figures reported by WTTW News show Chicago recorded 289 homicides through the end of August, nearly matching the 287 reported over the same period in 2025.
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