61 Shot, 11 Fatally, In Bloodiest Holiday Weekend In Years
By Stephen Gossett in News on Dec 27, 2016 3:51PM
Getty Images / Photo: Brad Thompson
Chicago saw one its deadliest holiday weekend in recent years, as 61 people were shot, 11 fatally, over the long Christmas break, according to the Tribune’s count.
Seven people were shot to death on Christmas Day this year—including two brothers who died in a mass shooting that left five others wounded. That’s more than twice the number of Christmas Day shooting deaths as last year, when three were killed. Only one person was killed in 2014 and two in 2013 on Dec. 25, the Trib noted.
This year’s 61 holiday-weekend shootings more doubles last year’s total, when 29 people were shot, and nearly doubles 2014, which saw 35 shootings. Both prior years saw 7 fatal shootings, compared to 11 this year.
Among the most recent was a shooting in Auburn Gresham, in which, according to a Chicago police spokesperson, two teen girls, 13 and 14, were shot while sitting in a van at 11:34 p.m. on Monday night, in 7500 block of South Union Avenue. The 14-year-old was struck in the back and listed in critical condition at Comer Children’s Hospital. The 13-year-old suffered a graze wound to the arm, taken to St. Bernard Hospital in good condition. A 2-year-old was also in the van but wasn’t harmed. Police said the father was a gang member, but the victims were not. Police were not sure if the girls were the intended targets.
CPD Communications Director Anthony Guglielmi said on Monday afternoon that 90 percent of victims had criminal history and gang affiliations, adding "we need to do more to help young adults to pursue different paths."
With 90% of weekend vics having criminal histories & gang affiliations, we need to do more to help young adults to pursue different paths
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) December 26, 2016
Supt. Eddie Johnson stressed a similar point on Monday. "We now know that the majority of these shootings and homicides were targeted attacks by gangs against potential rival gang members and groups who were at holiday gatherings...They were targeted knowing fully well that individuals would be at the homes of family and friends celebrating the holidays. This was followed by several acts of retaliation," Johnson said.
Around 770 people have been shot to death so far this year in Chicago, up from 468 in 2015.