Over this weekend, July 16, 2020, over 40 shootings took place. This resulted in 58 people being wounded and nine people dying. Two boys and seven teenagers were wounded in these shootings, as well as a 27-year-old man.
The recent shootings are apart of the latest trend in major U.S. cities. Over the past few months, gun violence have taken a sharp increase, despite crime complaints declining. Some people believe these shootings to be a result of mass protests and pandemic-related shutdowns.
As of July 12, Chicago police say that there is a 48 percent increase in murders compared to 2019 and about a 46 percent increase in shootings. The crime complaints, however, are down about nine percent — in 2016, these complaints are down 23 percent.
It is believed that the shootings are occurring due to a lack of trust between CPD and the communities they serve. Because of the widespread social unrest following George Floyd’s murder and the police violence that followed, many do not trust CPD. The Chicago Police Department has been under fire recently for police brutality, this coupled with the pandemic, could be causing the increase in shootings. This is not just happening in Chicago, the increase in gun violence is happening around the United States.
Written by Reginae Echols
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
WGN-TV 9: Chicago shootings leave at least 58 people wounded and 9 dead this weekend
Top Image Courtesy of Peter Miller’s Flickr Page-Creative Commons License
Featured Image Courtesy of Adam Courtemanche’s Page-Creative Commons License
