The Chicago Tribune reports that at least 22 individuals were shot in under 11 hours last night in Chicago as an already violent summer for the Windy City continues.
Many of these victims were innocent individuals caught in the spray of bullets related to gang organized, other criminal activity, or drive-by shootings according to police records. For example, "at about 7:15 p.m., an 18-year-old man suffered a graze wound to the head in the 2500 block of East 83rd Street in the South Chicago neighborhood," after sitting in a car, hearing gun shots, and realizing he had been hit big a stray bullet.
In one incident, "three people were shot in the 9400 block of South Wentworth Avenue in Princeton Park. The victims were in a parking lot when four males exited a dark SUV and opened fire. A 32-year-old woman was shot in both legs, and was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn where her condition was stabilized. A 26-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the leg, and was taken to Roseland Community Hospital where his condition was stabilized. The third victim, a 32-year-old man suffered wounds to he body, and was taken in critical condition to Christ Medical Center, police said."
Just last weekend, more than 50 were shot and 8 killed. "Chicago comes to life in the summer with festivals, barbecues, and family activities in the park," Deputy Chief Elgin Holt told local media. "Unfortunately, many of the South Side districts have been plagued with violence related to guns, gangs, and drugs for too long. And this weekend brought with it more of the same."
According to WGN 9, the suspects behind these shootings are repeat offenders. "We know who a lot of these people are," Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson told the station. "And how do we know that? Because we keep arresting them over and over and over again. And it's just a vicious cycle and until we hold violent offenders accountable the way that they should be, we are going to continue to see this."
