McCarthy Says More Of The Same At News Conference Addressing Thursday Night Shooting
By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 20, 2013 6:20PM
Police Supt. Garry McCarthy addressed the media regarding Thursday night’s shooting in a Back of the Yards park that injured 13, including a 3-year-old boy and, in what has become standard for McCarthy in these instances, used the tragedy to stump for federal ban on assault weapons and cite numbers showing violent crime and homicides are down this year over 2012.
"It's a miracle there has been no fatality," he said. "Illegal guns, illegal guns, illegal guns drive violence."
McCarthy said neighborhood residents were cooperating with police about the shooting and that “there were gang members among the victims.” It’s believed the incident stemmed from an ongoing beef between the Black P. Stones and Gangster Disciples. Ald. Willie Cochran (20th) told the Sun-Times police had a person of interest in custody, but McCarthy wouldn’t confirm that information.
Police recovered 16 shell casings from the scene and determined they were fired from military-grade firearms, leading McCarthy to once again call for tighter gun controls on a federal level. “This is something that we can’t accept as OK in a civilized society.”
Cornell Square Park is considered by police to be a “high gang conflict area” but it isn’t one of the zones CPD implements its saturation techniques to combat gang violence. Police are investigating any ties between Thursday night’s shooting and earlier incidents this week where shooters targeted homes near the park.