As the weather is warming up, nice summer nights are on our horizon. Experiencing our first 80 degree weekend for the year, people gathered for walks outside and even had beach days. However, accompanying this recent weather change was a spark of crime in Chicago. Multiple large groups of teenagers flooded the downtown area this past Friday and Saturday night, leading to two shootings and 16 arrests.
On Friday night, police responded to activity near 31st Street Beach where there were reports of harmful, reckless and disruptive behavior. Around 9 p.m., a 14-year-old boy was shot on his left thigh near 31st Street Beach while attending a gathering. He was transported to Comer Children’s Hospital in fair condition.
The 17-year-old boy who fired the shots was arrested and charged with unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a stolen firearm, and two other charges. Saturday night, a 16 and 17 year-old-boy were both shot near Millennium park. The boys were amongst a crowd of people when they were shot by an unidentified suspect. Both individuals were transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and were in fair condition.
Both nights of the incidents, reports were made where crowds were seen jumping on vehicles, smashing car windows, looting stores, and robbing and assaulting pedestrians. A total of 16 arrests were made of individuals a part of the swarm. One driver in the loop during the time of the situation said he was concerned with his surroundings.
“They were all just running around causing a ruckus and I wasn’t really sure if they were gonna be dangerous or attacking people,” Aleksander Popovic said.
These swarms were advertised on social media and encircled pages across the city. Chicago police have said they are keeping a close eye on platforms to monitor any future gatherings. Alongside media monitoring, police are also taking precautionary measures when it comes to public areas. A curfew for Millennium Park minors will be reinforced with new bag checks at beaches. Mayor Lori Lightfoot released a statement regarding the situation this week.
“We as a city cannot and will not allow any of our public spaces to become a platform for criminal conduct. Most importantly, parents and guardians must know where their children are and be responsible for their actions,” Lightfoot said.
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Michaela Wilson 