“Chainsaw” Can’t Escape Second Shooting in 3 Weeks

James Swaso

The weekend’s fifth shooting victim is James Swaso, who is better known as “Chainsaw.”  He is in a critical condition at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital after he was shot twice at his home. The well-known south side figure has had a long history of run-ins with the law—from robbery charges to firearm offences to even impersonation of Minister Michael Finnegan. But despite his colorful past, police believes Swazo’s shooting is as a result of the ongoing gang rivalry in the Jane Usher Boulevard area. Here’s what the south side police boss, Senior Superintendent Marco Vidal had to say:

Sr. Supt. Marco Vidal, Regional Commander, Eastern Division South

“On Saturday, we had the incident of Mister James Swaso which occurred around seven-fifteen a.m. where Mister Swaso, forty-four years security guard of Ground Dove Street in the Jane Usher area was at home when he was called out by a male person and when he came out, he received a gunshot wound to his stomach and to his left thigh. Mister Swaso is in a stable condition at this time and this matter is being investigated. There are persons who are being sought for in this matter as well.”

Reporter

“We know that he is someone who has a history. Are you able to say that he was targeted for reasons related to his personal involvement or was it the product of gang rivalries which have been extremely intense in that area?”

Marco Vidal

Sr. Supt. Marco Vidal

“As you rightly mentioned just now, Mister Swaso has a history, but also the ongoing rivalry in the Jane Usher area is what we believe led to this incident because it is not the first time that Mister Swaso has been fired upon. As recent as three weeks, he was targeted as well. So we know that this incident is [as a result] of the ongoing rivalry in that area.”