A series of mass shootings on the Southwest Side of Chicago left eleven people wounded late Friday and early Saturday, just days after a tragic incident that resulted in four fatalities and another fourteen injuries outside a River North restaurant.
The first shooting occurred around 11:10 p.m. on Friday in the 4800 block of South Justine Street. Two men approached a group of people standing outside and opened fire, striking seven individuals — including four women and three men, according to police reports.
Four of the victims were taken to the University of Chicago Hospital, where two of them were reported to be in critical condition: a 25-year-old woman who was shot in her buttock and a 42-year-old man who was shot in his calf. Additionally, a 25-year-old woman shot in her torso and a 29-year-old man shot in his left arm were in serious condition.
The remaining three victims, comprised of two women aged 21 and 27, along with a 21-year-old man, were transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital, also in serious condition. The women sustained injuries to their legs, while the man was shot in his right leg and foot, as reported by law enforcement officers.
Less than three hours later, at about 1:45 a.m. on Saturday, another shooting took place when four men were sitting in a parked car near the intersection of California Avenue and 27th Street. A dark SUV drove by, and unidentified individuals opened fire on their vehicle, according to police reports.
Authorities were notified after the four men made their way to Mt. Sinai for medical attention. Three victims, aged 25, 26, and 32, were reported to have sustained multiple gunshot wounds and were in critical condition. The fourth man, 33 years old, sustained a gunshot wound to his leg and was reported to be in fair condition.
As of Saturday afternoon, no arrests had been made in connection with either shooting, and investigations are ongoing.
These incidents occurred just two days after a mass shooting outside Artis Restaurant in River North that left four people dead and fourteen more wounded. The gathering at the restaurant was a private mixtape release party for an emerging drill rapper known as Mello Buckzz. The rapper shared on Instagram that her boyfriend and one of her close friends were among those killed in the shooting.
According to police, the tragic event unfolded around 11:02 p.m. on Wednesday when a dark-colored vehicle drove past the restaurant and someone inside fired at a crowd gathered outside. The perpetrators then fled the scene.
During a Thursday press conference, police Superintendent Larry Snelling stated that the restaurant was rented by the rapper and was not open to the public at the time of the incident. He emphasized that the shooting appeared to be targeted rather than random, suggesting there was motive behind the attack.
In memory of Taylor Walker, one of the victims from the aforementioned shooting, friends and family gathered on Thursday at Chicago Vocational High School for a balloon release and a vigil honoring the 26-year-old.
As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made in relation to the Wednesday shooting, and investigations are still underway.
According to ABC, at least 44 people have been shot during the Fourth of July weekend in Chicago, resulting in six fatalities. In comparison, last year’s holiday weekend witnessed 19 homicides and over 80 injuries due to gun violence.
image source from：blockclubchicago
