On Friday night, Chicago was plagued with violence as numerous shootings occurred across the city, resulting in the death of five people and leaving eight others injured. The incidents began in the early evening on Friday and continued well into Saturday night, sparking concerns among residents and law enforcement alike about the ongoing issue of gun violence in Mayor Brandon Johnson’s Chicago.
The first fatal shooting took place around 6:50 p.m. on Friday, when a 16-year-old boy was fatally shot during a drive-by in the 5600 block of North Rockwell Street. According to witnesses, someone inside a black SUV opened fire on three boys, tragically killing one and leaving the others unharmed.
The next fatal shooting occurred just after 2:30 a.m. on Saturday in the 400 block of West Division Street. A 34-year-old man was found with multiple gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Around 10:40 a.m. on Saturday, a 44-year-old man was shot multiple times in the 2900 block of South State Street. Despite efforts to save him, he succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead at the scene.
Just before 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, another fatal shooting occurred in the 4300 block of West 25th Street. A 49-year-old man was discovered with numerous gunshot wounds and was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Around 6:30 p.m. on Saturday night, a 16-year-old boy was involved in a verbal altercation in the 6500 block of South Racine Avenue when he was shot numerous times. Despite efforts to save him, he was transported to a hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and died.
According to a database maintained by the Chicago Sun-Times, between January 1, 2024, and June 2, 2024, there have been a total of 244 homicides in Chicago. The recent surge in violence has raised concerns among lawmakers and city officials, prompting discussions about increasing funding for public safety initiatives and addressing the root causes of gun violence in the city.
As Mayor Brandon Johnson continues to grapple with this issue, it is clear that more needs to be done to protect the residents of Chicago from the growing threat of gun violence in their communities.