At least 100 individuals have been shot, with 17 fatalities, since Wednesday evening in Chicago, marking a violent extended Fourth of July holiday weekend. A particularly alarming incident occurred early Sunday morning when three men were shot on a sidewalk outside the University of Chicago Medical Center’s emergency room. Witnesses reported gunshots coming from a dark-colored SUV that quickly fled the scene. The connection of the victims to the university remains unknown.
In another tragic event, a 25-year-old man died in a gunfire exchange near East 71st Street and South Shore on Saturday night. As he walked along the train tracks, two individuals approached him, leading to a deadly shootout. Despite immediate medical attention at the University of Chicago Medical Center, the man succumbed to multiple gunshot wounds. No arrests have been made in connection with this incident.
Gun violence continued to escalate with a drive-by shooting in the South Loop that claimed a man’s life and injured a woman. The shooting occurred just before 11:15 p.m. as the victims walked along East 21st Street. A white SUV approached, and someone inside opened fire, leaving the man critically injured. He later died at Northwestern Hospital. The woman, who was shot in the leg, is reported to be in stable condition. Witnesses, including South Loop resident Tara Sonneberg, described the chaotic scene, noting the sound of multiple gunshots and the sight of bullet casings scattered along the street.
In a particularly heartbreaking incident, a mass shooting in Greater Grand Crossing resulted in the deaths of two women and an 8-year-old boy. Multiple shooters fired into a home, critically injuring two young boys. Other mass shootings over the weekend occurred in Austin and Little Italy, collectively contributing to at least 19 of the shooting victims.
Among the injured was a 74-year-old woman, shot in the leg in Little Italy. The Chicago Police Department responded to a call about shots fired and discovered eight people wounded on West Hastings Street. While some victims were taken to Stroger Hospital in fair condition, others, including two women and an 18-year-old, refused medical attention despite being grazed by bullets.
Vaughn Bryant, executive director of the Metropolitan Peace Initiatives, highlighted the deep-rooted trauma that fosters such violence, noting the necessity for community responsibility and conflict resolution. Meanwhile, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson offered condolences to the affected families and announced the opening of an Emergency Services Assistance Center at Fosco Park on Racine Avenue to support the community.
The wave of violence also included a shootout in South Austin that left one man dead and six others injured. Police reports indicated that two individuals began shooting at each other, resulting in multiple victims, including a 15-year-old boy. Other incidents involved a 16-year-old girl shot in North Lawndale, and a man and woman found dead on East 87th Street early Friday morning.
Further adding to the weekend’s grim tally, a series of shootings occurred late Thursday and early Friday, claiming more lives. Among these, a 59-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man were fatally shot in separate incidents, and a 43-year-old man succumbed to his injuries after being found with multiple gunshot wounds.
Also Read:
- Tragic Spike in Chicago Violence: 35 Shot, 4 Fatally Over Weekend
- 65-Year-Old Woman Critically Injured in Chicago Shooting Incident
This extended period of violence starkly contrasts with last year’s Fourth of July, which saw 18 people shot and two fatalities. The continuous violence underscores the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to address gun violence and its devastating impact on Chicago communities.
