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According to the police, gun violence swept across Chicago during the extended Fourth of July weekend, leaving 109 individuals shot and 19 of them dead. This staggering figure was recorded from midnight Wednesday to midnight Monday.
During a press conference held on Monday, CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson emphasized the need for accountability for the individuals behind the recent shootings.
According to Johnson, the perpetrators made a choice to commit heinous acts of violence, including the murder of women, children, and the elderly. They were fully aware of the consequences of their actions and deliberately inflicted pain and suffering upon innocent people. Johnson emphasized that every individual involved in these crimes will be held accountable for their actions and the harm they have caused to the community.
Chicago Mayor Johnson and Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling provided an update following the 4th of July weekend, during which over 100 people were shot in Chicago.
According to Snelling, they made some changes after the Fourth of July and heading into the weekend. These adjustments included canceling the days off of officers. However, Snelling emphasized the need for communities to step forward and provide their support.
He expressed his concern about the mentality of those who can shoot an innocent child or a defenseless mother and consider it acceptable. Such individuals need to be apprehended and removed from the society, as failing to do so means failing other families.
Johnson pressed for solutions after violent holiday weekend
According to Johnson, he has reached out to the federal government to request additional resources that can be invested in communities.
Johnson’s response to the question of what adjustments are needed to ensure community safety was straightforward – the city requires more support.
Johnson urged all residents of the city to take action and declare that they have had enough. He expressed hope that the ongoing conversations would result in support from both state and federal partners, allowing the city to move forward without delay. According to Johnson, the city simply cannot afford to wait any longer for assistance.
According to Johnson, he has requested additional resources from the federal government to invest in communities.
According to Johnson, the acceptance of black death has been prevalent in the country for an extended period. He emphasized the importance of recounting the entire history to understand how we reached this point. Skipping any chapter would hinder our ability to make appropriate changes and ensure a stronger and safer future.
Johnson emphasized that with the additional federal resources that have been requested, he is now intensifying his efforts to take guns off the streets and encouraging individuals to speak up if they have information related to violent incidents. Nevertheless, certain alderpersons from the South Side believe that the mayor should take a more proactive approach rather than simply reacting to the violence.
According to Ald. Jeannette Taylor, the reason why no one was shot or killed in her 20th Ward during the holiday is due to a well-coordinated effort and building positive relationships between the police and the residents.
According to Taylor, a well-coordinated effort is crucial and should be initiated in January, rather than in April, May, or June.
Some argue that Johnson’s absence on July 4 may have negatively impacted his visibility in town.
17th Ward Alderman David Moore stated that although he has desired to be out of town for the Fourth of July on numerous occasions, it is crucial for him to be present in his ward.
Alderman Anthony Beale, the representative of the 9th Ward, also shared his thoughts on the matter.
Beale emphasized that taking a vacation is a fundamental right that everyone is entitled to. However, he also believes in the importance of teamwork and cooperation in achieving a common goal. As he puts it, “I’m not going to cancel people’s days off and take vacation if we are in the fight together. We are in the fight together.”
Over the long holiday weekend, Johnson made the decision to cancel the days off of police officers. Upon his return to town on Friday night, he joined Snelling in the Grand Crossing neighborhood.
Although the mayor assured that the violent acts would not go unpunished, Snelling was unable to confirm if any arrests had been made in connection with the recent weekend’s violent incidents.
Over the holiday weekend, there were reports of at least 10 people who were shot in the 15th Police District, which also happens to be the area where the mayor resides.
Father, aspiring musician found shot to death inside his West Side home
The Hill family is currently getting ready to bid farewell to Melvin Hill, a departure that arrived much sooner than anticipated.
Lawanda Hill, the sister of the victim, expressed her sadness and pain by saying, “He’s not going to be here anymore,” as tears streamed down her face.
Lawanda expressed her disbelief and the difficulty of the situation, stating that the person who had passed away was dearly loved by many and had brought laughter, joy, and fun into their lives.
According to neighbors, they heard what sounded like gunshots on Saturday night. Later on, they expressed their concern when the person in question failed to come out of their apartment for hours.
According to Lawanda, a concerned individual peered through the window and noticed that something was amiss. “They speak to him every single day,” she added.
Melvin’s aspirations of becoming a musician and fashion designer were being supported by his older sister. However, these dreams have now been cruelly taken away.
Lawanda expressed her anguish, stating that the incident occurred to someone she trusted in his own home. “For him to be in his home and for this to happen to him,” she said, “it felt like somebody just grabbed a hold of my heart and didn’t let it go.”
It seems that unraveling the events that took place inside her eight-month-old baby brother’s apartment all starts with a betrayal of trust.
Lawanda expressed her feelings about the betrayal of trust towards her baby brother by someone. She was deeply disturbed by the heinous act and felt that there was a lot of evil present in the situation.
In order to prevent other families from experiencing the same pain, Lawanda is advocating for change.
According to her, creating a positive impact in society requires collective effort. It’s not just up to the mayor; it takes a village to make a difference. She emphasized that having compassionate individuals who genuinely care about others is crucial in effecting change.
According to authorities, Hill’s residence was found with shell casings, however, no arrests have been made yet.
Other holiday weekend shootings
At approximately 11:51 p.m. on Sunday, gunfire erupted in the 700-block of East 89th Place, resulting in two people being shot. Sadly, one of the victims lost their life.
Early Sunday morning, the University of Chicago issued a security alert following a shooting incident that took place on a sidewalk in front of the adult hospital’s emergency room, where three men were shot. According to witnesses, gunshots were fired from a dark-colored SUV that fled southbound on Cottage Grove away from the Medical Center. It remains unclear whether any of the victims have any affiliation with the university. The UCPD is investigating the incident.
On Saturday night, an exchange of gunfire in South Shore resulted in the death of a man.
According to the Chicago police, two individuals approached a 25-year-old man who was walking on train tracks near the 1700-block of East 71st Street around 8:50 p.m. The man then engaged in gunfire with the two individuals.
According to the authorities, the victim sustained several gunshot wounds all over his body. He was immediately transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center for treatment, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
There were no reported arrests.
According to police, a man lost his life and a woman sustained injuries in a drive-by shooting on the South Side hours later.
According to authorities, the incident of gunfire occurred on East 21st Street in the 100-block of the South Loop neighborhood, shortly before 11:15 p.m.
According to authorities, shots were fired by an unidentified individual from a white SUV as a 26-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman were strolling down the sidewalk.
According to the authorities, the man suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his body and was rushed to Northwestern Hospital in critical condition. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
After being shot in the leg, the woman was transported to the hospital and is reported to be in good condition.
Tara Sonneberg, a resident of South Loop, was out walking her dog near the Marriott when she heard what sounded like 15 gunshots being fired and then cleared.
According to ABC7, a witness reported that one of the perpetrators was dressed in a brown sweater and a ski mask. The witness saw them pull out a gun and immediately pulled up their window while ducking for cover. The witness then reported seeing the perpetrators begin shooting.
Area Three detectives are currently conducting an investigation as no one has been taken into custody yet.
Further details regarding the shooting have not been provided by the police as of yet.
Friday evening, numerous individuals were forced to confront the long-lasting effects of gun violence on a community.
Mass shootings in Austin, Greater Grand Crossing, and Little Italy have left 19 people shot.
In the early hours of Friday, at approximately 12:15 a.m., the Chicago police were alerted of gunshots in the 1300 block of West Hastings Street. Upon arrival, they discovered eight individuals who had been injured by gunfire. The two gunmen responsible for the shooting had already fled the scene.
According to the authorities, two females aged 74 and 31 were shot in their legs and subsequently rushed to Stroger Hospital. They are currently reported to be in a fair condition.
Two young men, aged 28 and 23, sustained gunshot wounds in their legs and were transported to Stroger Hospital. They were reported to be in fair condition.
Authorities reported that a 36-year-old man was shot in the groin and was transported to Stroger in fair condition.
Officials have reported that a young woman, aged 18, sustained a graze wound to her head. She was taken to Stroger and is currently in good condition.
Police reported that two young women, aged 18 and 19, were grazed during the incident but declined medical assistance.
Erica Pinkerton expressed her frustration with the ongoing violence as she revealed her personal connection with the 74-year-old woman who was injured in the shooting. According to Pinkerton, she grew up with the victim and is deeply troubled by the senseless act of violence.
According to Pinkerton, the ladies are extremely kind and do not cause any trouble. He further expressed that we as a society have lost the ability to appreciate each other’s company due to the bitterness and coldness we harbor towards ourselves and others.
On the Fourth of July last year, gun violence resulted in the tragic death of two people and injury to 18 others. Pinkerton summed up the horrific events of the day in just two words.
She uttered, “Today is the day of assassination…”
As the head of the Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, a coalition of 15 community-based organizations dedicated to curbing gun violence, Vaughn Bryant played a pivotal role in ensuring public safety during the recent holiday. In fact, his team’s efforts resulted in the closure of the 31st Street Beach for the duration of the festivities.
Bryant emphasized that individuals who grow up in traumatic environments tend to handle conflicts in a non-adaptive manner, often resorting to extreme measures for minor issues. As citizens of the city, it is our collective responsibility to ensure that our community is safe and thriving. Bryant called on everyone to take ownership of the well-being of our city and not simply complain about the lack of opportunities for businesses to flourish without addressing the root cause of the issue.
There is a common sentiment among some individuals that the measures taken to prevent violence are inadequate.
Raul Perez, an Austin resident, expressed his concern about the prevalent gun violence in his community. He emphasized the urgent need to put a stop to it, saying, “They got to stop the guns. You know?” Perez further explained how the fear of getting shot has made it difficult for people to step out at night, stating, “You can’t go out at night. You know, you’re afraid to go out at night because you’re gonna get shot or something.”
In the wake of the violence in Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement expressing his condolences to the affected families and communities. He stated, “Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.”
According to Johnson, the local community members will receive assistance from an emergency services center that will be open on July 9th, Tuesday. The center will operate from 3:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. and will be located at Fosco Park on Racine Avenue.
According to the authorities, within two hours of the Little Italy shooting, a deadly shootout took place in the South Austin neighborhood, resulting in the death of one man and injuring six others.
According to police reports, a man aged 40 was found to have sustained a gunshot wound in his buttocks, and he later drove himself to Stroger Hospital. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
The victim of the incident, a young man aged 23, sustained a gunshot wound to his leg. He was immediately transported to West Suburban Medical Center, where he received prompt medical attention and was reported to be in good condition.
The victim of the shooting incident, a young man aged 23, sustained a gunshot wound in his hip. He was promptly transported to Loyola hospital for medical attention and is reported to be in good condition.
The victim, a young man of 25, sustained a gunshot wound to his arm and was promptly transported to Mt. Sinai for medical attention. Currently, he is reported to be in fair condition.
The young victim of the shooting incident is a 15-year-old boy who sustained a gunshot wound in his back. He was promptly brought to Stroger for medical attention and is currently in good condition.
The individuals who were thought to be responsible for the shooting left the area, and as of now, nobody has been apprehended.
In the early hours of Friday morning, a North Lawndale residential complex on the West Side of the city was the scene of a critical shooting. A 16-year-old girl was shot in the head at approximately 1:40 a.m. while in the 1200 block of South Central Park Avenue. Police have reported that the victim is in critical condition.
In the early hours of Friday, at approximately 2:10 a.m., law enforcement officers received reports of a person being shot in the 1200 block of West Washburne Avenue. Upon arriving at the scene, they discovered a 43-year-old man who had sustained several gunshot wounds to his body. Sadly, despite being rushed to Stroger Hospital, he was pronounced dead, according to police officials.
According to the police, a man aged 34 was fatally shot in the neck around 1 a.m. on Thursday at the 6200 block of South Laflin Street. He was immediately rushed to the University of Chicago, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
Emergency Services Assistance Center opening to support those impacted by violence
On Tuesday, a center for emergency services assistance is set to open to provide aid to those affected by violence during the holiday weekend.
The location for the event is set to be Fosco Park, situated on Racine Avenue in the charming neighborhood of Little Italy.
The opening hours for the event will be from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Cardinal Blase Cupich has released a statement regarding the recent outbreak of violence across several cities in the United States during the Fourth of July holiday weekend. The cities affected include Cleveland, Philadelphia, Boston, Albany, New York, Detroit, Tampa, Florida, Connecticut, and Chicago. Sadly, the Highland Park community in Chicago, which was still recovering from a mass shooting during the Independence Day parade two years ago, was struck again by violence. More than 100 people were shot, and 19 lost their lives during the recent outbreak of violence in Chicago. This tragedy has left countless families and friends of the victims with questions, prayers, and anger. Cardinal Cupich reiterates that America is facing a gun violence epidemic, and it is imperative that we act swiftly to address this issue. While beautiful memories of those lost to gun violence will forever remain, the trauma from their loss will also persist.
It is imperative for our elected officials to take decisive action and truly hear the voices of the countless Americans who have lost loved ones, friends, mentors, and their own sense of hope due to the devastating impact of gun violence.
Pope Francis’s prayer after the Highland Park shooting is a powerful message of support that we should all embrace. He reminds us that, with a steadfast belief in the grace of God, even the most hardened hearts can be transformed, enabling us to turn away from evil and do what is right. We must all work together to reject violence in all its forms and respect the sanctity of life at every stage. Let us join in this prayer and commit ourselves to building a world where peace and compassion reign supreme.
