Chicago Teen Thought To Be Dead By Paramedics Was Still Alive When Covered With Sheet

Source: Evanston Township High School

A Chicago teen who was shot several times in the head was presumed dead by paramedics only to actually still be alive.

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Erin Carey, 17, was shot in the head on Chicago's West Side early Monday. Responding paramedics believed he had suffered fatal head wounds so they covered him up with a sheet and proceeded to tend to other victims, according to a report from the Chicago Tribune. However, witnesses on the scene noticed that Carey's body began to twitch and notified paramedics.

Paramedics then performed chest compressions on him before putting him into an ambulance and taking him to Stroger Hospital. Carey was in "very critical condition" when he arrived at the hospital and was placed on life support. He passed away at 1:14 a.m. Tuesday, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Chicago police First Deputy Superintendent Anthony Riccio spoke on the incident with Carey, saying:

"He was shot in the head and the prognosis is not good. I do understand that paramedics looked at him, believed him to be deceased, covered him with that sheet and moved on to another individual who was nearby who was also shot. They saw motion, movement underneath the sheet. Officers who were present notified paramedics."

Fire officials said they're looking into the response of the paramedics. Carey was among six people who were shot after two cars circled around a party he was at. A woman, 22, was also killed and four men were injured. Carey had just graduated from Evanston Township High School.

Source: Chicago Tribune