At least 84 shot, 14 killed in Chicago over violent 4th of July
CHICAGO was like a war zone over the American 4th of July weekend, with at least 84 people shot and 14 killed in a spate of shocking violence.
Chicago has become a hotspot of urban violence, and the weekend shooting spree is the worst case of gun violence in the city so far this year, reports The Chicago Tribune.
Sixteen-year-old Warren Robinson was shot dead by police while hiding under a car, while 44-year-old Tonya Gunn was killed in crossfire at an Independence Day BBQ.
Other victims were fired on in drive-by shootings – one victim shot while riding a bike, and others shot while hanging out in pharmacy parking lots.
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A police officer, Jeffrey Brady Westerfield, was also found dead in his police car.
Police said Robinson – who was three days away from his 17th birthday, was shot dead after refusing to put down his weapon, but his mother and witnesses denied he was armed.
“He didn’t have a gun on him,” his mother Georgina Utendahl told US ABC News.
“I have witnesses who saw him running from other people and police shot him.”
“They shot him over 20 times,” she told CBS News. “They are trying to say he had a gun on him and he didn’t have a gun on him.”
In one incident on Friday night, shooter Denzel A Mickiel fired on a group of people leaving a party – only to be shot himself by a military member who was carrying a concealed weapon.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police condemned the bloodshed, which they blamed on lax gun laws and an out-of-control gang culture.
Security expert Ross Rice told CBS Chicago the wave of violence across the city was a result of gangs and the ease of getting ahold of guns.
“I think that is representative of the gang, drug, gun violence problem that still persists in Chicago,” he said. “It’s not a law enforcement problem solely. There’s not going to be a law enforcement solution to this. You can’t arrest your way out of gang violence.”
Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McGarthy said Chicago is living a horrible version of Groundhog Day – and doesn’t see much changing until gun laws change.
“It’s Groundhog Day here in Chicago. I come here every week,” he told CBS Chicago. “Until such time as something happens to the individuals who carry these firearms…you know, everybody asks me what’s different about New York and Chicago. I could tell you very simple: proliferation of firearms.
Mayor Emanuel said the shootings were “simply unacceptable” and called for better policing, stronger gun laws and efforts to build a “sense of community” to halt gun violence.
“I ask all Chicagoans, regardless of where you live, end the gun violence in our city,” Mr Emanuel said.
“The solution does not just include policing – although we’ll continue to look for ways to put more police where they’re needed,” said Mr Emanuel. “We also have to give our young people alternatives to the street, and as a community we need to demand more of ourselves and our neighbours.”
Despite the weekend’s violence, homicides in Chicago are actually down from their 2012 peak of 500. According to a tally by the Chicago Tribune, 1129 people have been shot in the city so far this year.
At least 84 shot, 14 killed in Chicago over violent 4th of July weekend | News.com.au
