Two people were shot, one fatally, early New Year’s Day during an argument on the Near West Side.

The shooting happened about 2:15 a.m. at West Lake and North Green streets, Fire Media Affairs spokesman Joseph Roccasalva said.

David Garrett, 47, of West. Potomac Ave. was dead on the scene, a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner said. He was found in the street with a gunshot wound to his head.

Another victim in in John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County in serious to critical condition, according to Roccasalva.

The man identified as Garrett was involved in a "verbal altercation" with an unknown suspect when the person shot him and ran off, according to police.

The reason for the dispute is not known. Harrison Area detectives are investigating.

•ANOTHER VICTIM DIED early New Year’s Day after he was shot at his home in south suburban Harvey.

Bernard McHerron, 29, was shot to death at his home on East 150th St. said the Cook County Medical Examiner. McHerron was pronounced dead as Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 1:35 a.m.
 
Harvey police declined comment.

•THE EXCALIBUR CLUB was the scene of a brawl early New Year’s Day  which left five  hospitalized in the River North neighborhood on the Near North Side.

An EMS Plan 1 response, which sends five ambulances to the scene, was called to the club, located at 632 N. Dearborn St., at 2:25 a.m., Fire Media Affairs spokesman Joseph Roccasalva said.

The victims are all in “good” condition in Northwestern Memorial Hospital . The investigation continues.

•AT LEAST FOUR FAMILY MEMBERS were stabbed -- two seriously wounded -- during a family fight early New Year’s Day  in the South Shore neighborhood.

About 2:30 a.m., four people were stabbed near East 78th Street and South Essex Avenue, Fire Media Affairs spokesman Joseph Roccasalva said. Police said the incident occurred outside a home and that the incident was being investigated as a “family fight.’’

Four were initially taken in serious-to-critical condition to John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Roccasalva said. Two were immediately treated and released.

News Affairs Officer David Banks said one person is in custody for the stabbings.  Calumet Area detectives are investigating.

•ALDO RUIZ WAS STABBED TO DEATH New Year’s Eve in a possibly gang-related fight in a Southwest Side alley.

Ruiz, 24, of South Western Ave., was found stabbed in the chest at the intersection of South California Avenue and West 61st St. He was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn at 3 p.m., the Cook County Medical Examiner said.

About noon Wednesday, he left his vehicle in an alley in the 2800 block of West 60th Street when he was approached by two unknown males, police News Affairs Officer Amina Greer said.

An argument and struggle ensued and the man was stabbed in the chest.

After he was stabbed, he got back to his car and attempted to drive away, but crashed into a parked car near South California Avenue and West 61st St where he was found, Greer said. He was taken to Christ Medical Center where he was pronounced dead a few hours later.

No suspects are in custody, which appears to be gang-related, Greer said.

An autopsy is scheduled

THE DEATH OF RALPH BRIDGES, shot outside a liquor store near south suburban Joliet, is under investigation.

Bridges, 56, had been a customer at Ranch Liquors, 1913 S. Chicago St. in unincorporated Joliet Twp., Will County Sheriff's spokesman Pat Barry said.

"Around 10 p.m., he walks (back) inside and says, 'I've just been shot,' before he collapses," Barry said.

The two clerks called 911 and Bridges was taken to Silver Cross Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 10:47 p.m.

Barry said the employees reported hearing a bang "like someone was stomping their feet against the building" shortly before Bridges returned to the liquor store.

"They also heard a car leaving the parking lot at a high rate of speed, but they did not see the vehicle," he said. There were no other customers in the liquor store .

Will County Coroner Patrick K. O'Neil said an autopsy confirms Bridges was killed by a single gunshot wound.

Barry said Bridges lived on Akin Ave. in Joliet. Detectives are tracing his steps before the shooting.

"It should be noted the victim is a registered sex offender with an extensive criminal history," Barry said.

Records show Bridges was arrested on weapons charges by Joliet police in 1979 and sheriff's police in 1980.

In December 1987, he attempted to escape a security guard at Hillcrest Shopping Center in Crest Hill "by opening the doors and getting into several passing cars" as he ran through the parking lot. Bridges was arrested after locking himself in the bathroom of a nearby fast-food restaurant.

He allegedly "jumped into a stranger's car" and led Crest Hill police on a chase during a similar theft the following November.

In 1991, Bridges was sentenced to three years in prison for two other shoplifting crimes.
 
Released early, he was arrested on charges of retail theft and burglary in 1993. The allegations included trying to steal a ham from a market in the 1600 block of West Jefferson Street. Police said Bridges ran into the nearby neighborhood, trying to escape, but was caught by a store employee and an off-duty officer. He was also charged with battery and aggravated assault during that incident.

Bridges was again arrested for retail theft after reportedly taking $39 in medical supplies from a Lockport pharmacy in 1998. He was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia by sheriff's police the following year and criminal trespassing by Joliet police in 2000.

In 2002, Bridges was one of 27 people arrested in Operation Pick-Off, a yearlong undercover investigation of crack dealers operating on Joliet's East Side.

According to reports, over the next six years Joliet police arrested Bridges on drug charges three more times and on a charge of criminal sexual assault in July 2008.