The toll brought the number of people shot in Chicago this year to nearly 2,200. 329 of them have been killed, and approximately 100 more than last year.
The increased number has forced the Chicago Police Department to form a new summer patrol unit, last month to tamp down violence during months when shootings historically rise. Deputy Superintendent John Escalante said that commanders had a meeting on Monday "coming up with what else we can do for this week."
Escalante told reporters at police headquarters, "we added resources each day. Those commanders are here right now, meeting with the chief of patrol. The courts, our state legislators, other community activists need to step up and help the police, hold people accountable for their gun violence."
He cited the killing of Raygene Jackson, 38years old, who was shot around 4:45 AM on Sunday in the 4500 block of West Maypole Street.
Escalante said, "I don't mean to victimize this victim any further, this man lost his life. But our frustration is, in 1995 he was sentenced to 46 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections for a murder. In 1995. He was paroled last year. How and why he's on the street, I don't know. But if he was still serving his sentence, he wouldn't be a murder victim right now.”
Escalante talked about the shooting in Baton Rouge, La., that left three police officers dead and three others injured, on 18th July. He also mentioned a 20 years old man who was killed in a double shooting in Austin at 8 PM
Carlos Harding and another 20 years old man were found shot inside a black SUV in the 100 block of North Lavergne Avenue. Harding suffered a gunshot wound in head and was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Escalante said, "So no matter what plans and strategies we put in place, and I do believe we put good plans and strategies in place each week and each weekend , until we get everyone else, whether it's the courts, our state legislators, other community activists, to step up with us and hold people accountable for their gun violence, we're going to continue to see it, unfortunately. And unfortunately, it may impact the same communities no matter what we try to do."
Harding was killed a mile north of the double shooting at the house party, which occurred shortly before midnight Sunday. An 18 years old was shot in the head and another 33 years old man, was shot in the chest and the right leg, and was stabilized at Stroger Hospital, police said.
The 18 years old was pronounced dead on the scene. Donre Domio said that she was inside a home on the block when her teenage son shouted, "They’re shooting. They’re shooting." The most violent shootings of the weekend took place on Sunday when at least 22 people were shot, three of them fatally, including 15 years old Travon D. Smith.
Three more people were killed and 15 others were injured on Sunday morning through the night. On Saturday evening, a 40years old man was shot by police in the West Garfield Park neighborhood during a raid, suspected of storing illegal weapons, authorities said.
Escalante said, "That's what our officers deal with, that's their frustration. They're out there, they're working, but we need everybody else to help us out and to hold these repeat offenders accountable so we can bring the level of violence down."
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By Prakriti Neogi
