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PORTAGE PARK — A 27-year-old man was shot early Wednesday morning a few blocks from Chopin Park, officials said.

The shooting occurred just after 1 a.m. when two people in separate cars stopped in traffic in the 3500 block of north Laramie Avenue began arguing, according to a statement from the Chicago Police Department.

The victim, who was shot in the knee, is a documented gang member. He was taken to Community First Medical Center, officials said.

While the number of shootings and murders in Chicago has soared this year as compared to last year, the Far Northwest Side has been largely immune from the surge in violence.

So far in 2016, there have been eight shootings and one murder in Portage Park. In 2015, there were 12 shootings and two murders.