Eighteen people were shot and killed in Chicago, Ill. over the weekend, including a 1-year-old boy.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported at least 65 shootings between Friday night and Monday morning. In total, 18 people were killed including three minors. Another 47 people, including a fourth minor, were wounded.
All three minor fatalities occurred on Saturday. The first minor victim, a 17-year-old boy, Antiwon Douglas, was shot and killed after he got into an altercation at around 11:25 a.m. in the 1100 block of North Monticello Avenue when someone in a crowd pulled a firearm and fired multiple shots. Douglas was struck in the left side of the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
On Saturday afternoon, Sincere A. Gaston, 1, was struck and killed by gunfire. His mother was driving home from a laundromat around 2 p.m. when a gunman in another vehicle pulled up alongside them and opened fire. The boy was struck in the side of the chest while his mother was grazed on the head. She managed to drive to St. Bernard Hospital where the boy was pronounced dead. The mother was later transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center and was in stable condition.
On Saturday night at around 9:40 p.m., Lina Nunez, 10, was inside an apartment when a bullet came through a window and struck her in the head. She was transported to Stroger Hospital where she reportedly died hours later.
An 8-year-old girl was also grazed in the head by stray gunfire Saturday night at 11:18 p.m. at a home in Englewood. She was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital and was reported in fair condition.
The first fatal shooting of the weekend occurred on Friday evening in the Austin neighborhood when a 42-year-old man was killed at 5:42 p.m.
The last fatal shootings occurred at around 2:22 a.m. Monday morning in the 4400 block of South Whipple Street when a 21-year-old man was shot in the face and leg by a male suspect. Police pronounced the victim dead at the scene. Another man, 22-year-old Joseph Gisc, was found dead inside his home with gunshot wounds to his chin and face at 12:39 a.m. Monday.
The Chicago Sun-Times also reported that the shootings over the weekend brought the total number of homicides in the City of Chicago to 300 so far for the year.
On Monday, Chicago Police announced they had seized 66 guns over the weekend and performed 22 arrests related to firearms offenses.
Last weekend, 102 people were shot in Chicago, with 14 fatalities.
On May 31, Chicago experienced its highest number of fatalities in a 24-hour period in 60 years. That same weekend, 25 total people were shot and killed and another 85 people were wounded by gunfire.
“Our officers seized 66 guns over the weekend (4,629 in 2020 so far), + 22 gun arrests. We’re now focused on the guns we WEREN’T able to recover that have led to the loss of innocent life. Anyone with information can submit tips anonymously to https://t.co/1xUCRz71hV,” the Chicago Police Department tweeted.
Our officers seized 66 guns over the weekend (4,629 in 2020 so far), + 22 gun arrests. We’re now focused on the guns we WEREN’T able to recover that have led to the loss of innocent life. Anyone with information can submit tips anonymously to https://t.co/1xUCRz71hV. pic.twitter.com/0Ck8409taK
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) June 29, 2020
In a later video tweet on Monday, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said “When violent offenders have no consequence, violence continues.”
When violent offenders have no consequence, violence continues. pic.twitter.com/NJ41Qx6fDp
— Chicago Police (@Chicago_Police) June 29, 2020
Brown went on to criticize the criminal justice system for not effectively countering violent crime.
“We are talking about a very complex, very nuanced criminal justice system that’s not addressing the violence,” Brown added. “. . . We must keep violent offenders in jail longer. They shouldn’t get out early. If they get three years, do three years.”
