Wrong Kind Of Fireworks Mar Holiday

By Marcus Gilmer in News on Jul 5, 2010 2:52PM

A warm, sunny weekend took a violent turn overnight as at least three people have been reported killed and 12 wounded since last night. In all, the Tribune reports 13 separate shooting incidents ranging from 8:16 p.m. last night to 5:06 a.m. this morning. Two of the fatalities were reported in the Englewood neighborhood. The first killing happened at 10:25 p.m., the other at around 1 a.m. when police responded to shots fired in the 6400 block of South Paulina Avenue. One victim was pronounced dead at the scene while the other was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. The third killing happened early this morning in the East Chatham neighborhood. There were no reports of any suspects being held for any of the shootings.

In a separate incident last night, police tried to disperse a crowd in the 100 block of North Leamington Avenue in the Austin neighborhood when a man fired a shot into the air and then took off on foot. Police gave chase and caught up to the suspect in the alley where the man then pointed his gun at police, prompting police to fire at him. He was struck at least once and taken to Mount Sinai Hospital; his condition was unknown.

If you can believe it, though, despite this outbreak of violence plus the stabbings and beating incident at this year's Taste of Chicago, it actually pales in comparison to the last few years. Last year, there were literally dozens of shootings over the Fourth of July holiday weekend as well as a few dozen arrests at the Taste (in one day). And two years ago there was all Hell breaking loose after the Taste fireworks. While any violence, one would argue, is unacceptable, the relative calm (and yes, "only" 13 shootings reported overnight on a holiday is considered "calm" in the context of this summer), Supt. Weis is probably breathing a small sigh of relief that it wasn't any worse.