Gunfire claimed 43 victims in Chicago over the Halloween weekend—38 people were wounded and five killed between 5 p.m. on Friday and 5 a.m. Monday.
According to Fox News, the levels of violence rose with each passing day. Three people were wounded and one killed on Friday, Oct. 27; 11 were wounded and one killed on Saturday; and 25 people were shot, and three killed on Sunday.
The final shooting happened early Monday morning. Oct. 29. It was non-fatal.
Halloween weekend in Chicago was worse than Labor Day weekend in terms of gun violence. Fox News reported six gun murders and 23 woundings over that holiday weekend.
Many weekends tend to be violent in Chicago. Three people were killed and 24 wounded the weekend period of Oct. 19–Oct. 22. Holidays are generally more deadly in the Windy City.
The Chicago Tribune reported on Oct. 28 that so far this year, 2,530 people have been shot in Chicago.
‘A Society Issue’
During the heart of Chicago’s deadliest year of the century, Police Superintendant Eddie Johnson told the Tribune, “It’s not a police issue, it’s a society issue.”
“Impoverished neighborhoods, people without hope do these kinds of things,” Superintendant Johnson said.
“You show me a man that doesn’t have hope, I’ll show you one that’s willing to pick up a gun and do anything with it.
“Those are the issues that’s driving this violence. CPD is doing its job,” he continued.
According to Fox News, most of the gun violence happens in poor neighborhoods where crime, in general, is high, maintenance is low, police presence is spotty, and medical facilities tend to be rarer.
Relative Improvement
Despite the number of deaths being so shockingly high, the number of shootings is actually lower so far in 2018 compared to 2017.
According to the Tribune, 611 fewer people have been shot in Chicago to this date in 2018 than in 2017.
Memorial Day weekend 2017 was much deadlier than this year’s: last year seven people were killed and another 45 were wounded. Seventy-one people were shot over Memorial Day weekend in 2016.
In 2018, 36 people were shot, seven fatally, USA Today reported.
These improvements are relative. Chicago is still on pace to have the highest murder rate in the nation.
2016 and 2017 were catastrophic years for gun violence in Chicago. The city saw 762 murders in 2016 and 650 murders in 2017. Chicago led the nation in homicides those years.
By Memorial Day, 2018, Chicago had registered 191 homicides—down from 237 the previous year. Even so, Chicago homicides at that point of the year were almost as high as that of Los Angeles (92) and New York City (106) combined, USA Today reported.
Violence Might Have Ended Rahm Emmanuel’s Reign
Mayor Rahm Emmanuel announced on Sept. 4 that he would not seek a third term in office.
The announcement came shortly after the Tribune reported more than 1,000 people had been shot between Memorial Day weekend (starting May 26) and Labor Day weekend (ending Sept.3).
When Emmanuel made the announcement, 2072 Chicagoans had been shot since January 1.
“I’ve decided not to seek re-election,” said Emanuel, according to the Tribune. “This has been the job of a lifetime, but it is not a job for a lifetime.”
As most retiring politicians do, Emmanuel said he was leaving the job to spend more time with his family.
The ChicagoTribune pointed out that during Emmanuel’s tenure, gun violence and homicides had spiked, teachers had gone on strike, a record number of schools were closed, and the shooting by police of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald, which led to a Federal investigation, had cost him support among black voters.
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