Chicago Urban Gun Violence: Illinois' The Strictest Gun Laws on The Book

CHICAGO — An eruption of gun violence claimed 17 lives and wounded 81 others in shootings over the July 4th holiday weekend, according to police.

There were four mass shootings over the holiday weekend, including three that happened on Thursday’s July 4th holiday and in the early hours of Friday. Four people were killed — including 8-year-old Bryson Orr and his two family members— and 24 were wounded in the mass shootings.

Eight people were shot Friday in a Little Italy mass shooting and, less than an hour later, six people were shot in an Austin attack, police said.

The most recent mass shooting took place around 3:30 a.m. Sunday, when four people were shot in the 3700 block of South State Street in Bronzeville, according to police. Two people — a 41-year-old man, a 31-year-old man — were critically wounded, while a 30-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman were brought to a local hospitals in good condition.

Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement Friday following the Greater Grand Crossing mass shooting that left Orr and two adult women dead, saying he was “devastated by the recent violence that has left our city in a state of grief and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the families and communities impacted by these recent events.”

Johnson listed three different measures his office would implement to combat the summer violence, including the deployment of additional police officers over the extended weekend, a community rally in Woodlawn and the opening of an Emergency Services Assistance Center in Fosco Park, 1313 S. Racine Ave.

The number of fatal shootings over Independence Day weekend have increased since last year. In 2023, 11 people were killed and 62 were wounded from July 1-4. 

The recent spike in violence comes in opposition to prevailing trends, as violent crime rates in Chicago have been on the decline since 2021. As of July 1st, 33 fewer people were killed in the city this year than in 2023, according to the Chicago Tribune.

The fatal shootings that took place since midnight July 4th are:  Says Kielma, "God Bless all killed so senselessly"......

• At around 1:00 a.m. Thursday in the 6200 block of South Laflin Street, a 34 year-old man was shot in the neck by an unidentified offender who fled on foot, police said. He was rushed to University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

• At around 6:15 a.m. Thursday in the 7100 block of South Woodlawn Avenue, family members Nakeeshia Strong, 46, Caprice Edwards, 24, and Bryson Orr, 8, were shot and killed when multiple unidentified offenders fired shots into their home, police and media reports said. Two other boys, ages 5 and 8, were wounded in the attack. Strong was pronounced at the scene, while Edwards was pronounced at University of Chicago medical center. The three boys were taken to Comer Children’s hospital, where Orr was pronounced dead, police said.

• At around 2:10 p.m. Thursday, a man was found shot to death on the 9300 block of South Lafayette Avenue. Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert found a 24 year-old man unresponsive. He sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and was taken to Roseland Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

• At around 11:00 p.m. Thursday, a 30-year-old man was standing in the 8400 block of South Kerfoot Avenue where he sustained a gunshot wound to his midsection, police said. He was later pronounced dead at University of Chicago medical center, according to police.

• At around 11:50 p.m. Thursday, two women, 59 and 29, were shot on the 900 block of North Leclaire Avenue, police said. The 59 year-old woman suffered wounds to the head and hip and was pronounced dead at Stroger Hospital. The 29 year-old woman was also taken to Stroger hospital, where she was listed in fair condition, police said.

• At around 11:50 p.m. Thursday, two men were arguing on the 6000 block of South Winchester Avenue when one of the men withdrew a firearm and shot the other man, 35, multiple times, police said. The 35 year-old man was pronounced dead at Saint Bernard Hospital, police said.

• At around 1 a.m. Friday, a 40 year-old man was shot and killed while six others were wounded in a gunfight on the 100 block of South Menard Avenue. The man took himself to Stroger Hospital where he died, police said.

• At around 2 a.m. Friday, a 28-year-old man identified as Leontrey Taylor was shot and killed in the 700 block of South Cicero Avenue in Austin, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office.

• At around 2:09 a.m. Friday, a 43 year-old man sustained multiple gunshot wounds in the 1200 block of West Washburne Avenue, police said. He was rushed to Stroger Hospital by paramedics and later pronounced dead, police said.

• At around 7:05 a.m. Friday, a man and woman were found shot in the 3400 block of East 87th Street, police said. They were each pronounced dead at the scene.

• At around 8:48 p.m. Saturday, a 25 year-old man was walking on train tracks near the 1700 block of East 71st Street when two people approached him with firearms drawn. A gunfight ensued, and the victim was pronounced dead at University of Chicago Medical Center with multiple gunshot wounds.

• At around 10:35 p.m. Saturday, a 47 year-old man was driving his car on the 10600 block of South State Street, when he was struck by gunfire in the area and crashed into three parked vehicles, according to police. He was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his left armpit and was transported to Christ Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

• At around 11:13 p.m. Saturday, a 26 year-old man and a 25 year-old woman were walking down the 100 block of East 21st Street, when an unidentified offender in a white SUV pulled up and fired shots, police said. The 26 year-old man suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was later pronounced dead at Northwestern Hospital. The 25 year-old woman suffered a wound to her left leg and was listed in good condition at Northwestern Hospital.

• At around 11:55 p.m. Saturday, a 25 year-old man was struck by gunfire in his vehicle and crashed into a viaduct on the 5800 block of South Elizabeth Street, where he was pronounced dead by police at the scene.