Preparedness
Chicago’s Violent Weekend Raises Questions on Gunshot Detection Strategy
Over a recent weekend, Chicago experienced a wave of violence that resulted in at least 26 individuals being shot, with five fatalities reported. These incidents occurred across Saturday and Sunday, with no arrests made as of the latest updates.
According to Illinois research nonprofit Wirepoints, Chicago has led the nation in homicides for the 12th consecutive year in 2023. Among the victims, a man was fatally shot in his high-rise apartment in the South Loop on Saturday. Another victim, Timothy Fulton, aged 26, succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained in an empty lot and was pronounced dead at a hospital.
A 27-year-old man was critically injured after being shot in the back outside the office of city Alderman Maria Hadden. Expressing her concern, Hadden stated her hopes for the man’s “speedy recovery.”
The weekend also saw several drive-by shootings. One such incident left a 33-year-old man in critical condition after being shot above the eye while sitting in the passenger seat of a vehicle. Another drive-by shooting on the South Side resulted in three people being injured, two of whom are in critical condition.
In a controversial move, Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson recently allowed the city’s contract with the gunshot detection system ShotSpotter to lapse. Many city aldermen had advocated for its retention, citing its effectiveness in enabling quicker police responses to shootings.
Alderman David Moore from the 17th ward criticized this decision, emphasizing that ShotSpotter could have significantly improved the response time of the Chicago Police Department (CPD) in the case of Sierra Evans, whose body was discovered nearly nine hours after she was murdered. Moore highlighted the potential impact of the system, stating, “Instead of a resident finding her body hours later, the sound of gunfire would have alerted CPD to multiple shots at 12:06 a.m. and it would have done so in less than 30 seconds from the shots being detected.”
He further expressed his frustration, noting, “While the politics of this city is trying to minimize this tragedy, I’m not going to remain silent. This is about saving lives. For a woman to be found 9 ½ hours after a ShotSpotter alert could have been sent is heartbreaking.”
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
David
October 12, 2024 at 1:44 pm
Why isnt the National Guard utilized to protect these neighborhoods. These killers are terrorists. .
don
October 12, 2024 at 1:44 pm
Every Democrat-controlled city has the same problems. Corruption, lack of social services, poverty. Billions of dollars were poured into Baltimore and it is still a hopeless pit. The money was controlled and distributed by the corrupt city politicians.
Roland
October 12, 2024 at 2:21 pm
The first step to cut down on gun violence in Chicago is to round up and get rid of the Communist (Democrats) that are polluting the city, and bring in some law and order. Between the moron communists that vote these lunatics into office and moron communist lunatics they put into office there is no saving the city.
paul
October 12, 2024 at 4:44 pm
bRING BACK PUBLIC HANGINGS TO DETER THESE A__HOLES THAT ARE JUST TROWN BACK ONTO THE STREETS TO COMMITT MORE CRIME! As stated by others , get rid of every dumbasscrat that holds any position in these scum cities! Every dumbascrat run city is a cesspool of crime and drug use! Why are Lawyers and judges allowed to ignore the demands of the citizens that pay their salary? Fire any lawyer or judge that sends these scum back into neighborhoods to terrorize the people that just want peace! Enough of this government CORRUPTION!
Herbert Woodbury
October 12, 2024 at 11:58 pm
that is the big problem. Turning criminals loose instead of locking them up. 3 strikes and you are dead Bring back the death penalty for violent crimes.
Also, try anyone with a violent crime as an adult. Stop going easy on “minors” that commit violent crimes.
Classing gangs and gang members as terrorists would also be a good start.
EVERYONE of the thugs that commit these crimes has been in trouble many times before.
Herbert Woodbury
October 13, 2024 at 12:01 am
The choices in the poll SUCK. None of them will help. 3 strikes, with one of them violent, means that you are a habitual offender and too dangerous to have in society. Death penalty is the answer.