Chicago Faces Rising Gun Violence: Calls for Federal Intervention

A string of shootings in Chicago has resulted in seven fatalities and 38 injuries since Friday evening, according to the police. This surge in violence has prompted former President Donald Trump to repeat his call for military intervention in the city.

On Sunday morning, Trump took to Truth Social to urge Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker to seek federal assistance. Trump promised, “I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE YEAR, it would be one of the safest!!!” Governor Pritzker, a potential Democratic candidate for the 2028 presidential race, has consistently rejected the idea of military intervention in the city and did not immediately respond to these comments.

During Trump’s administration, National Guard troops were deployed to several Democrat-led cities, including New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee, for crime-fighting purposes. Although Chicago Police Department data shows a minor increase in shooting incidents compared to the same period last year, overall violent crime rates have decreased in recent years, aligning with national trends.

Between 5 p.m. Friday and Sunday, Chicago police reported at least two dozen shooting incidents. Among the victims were a 21-year-old who was shot in the chest on Sunday, an 18-year-old killed by a gunshot to the armpit on Saturday evening, and a 50-year-old who died from a chest wound on Friday.

At least 12 were injured when an SUV approached a crowd Friday evening, and its occupants began shooting. The victims, including eight men and four women, are receiving care at four local hospitals. Their ages range from 17 to 47. One man sustained injuries but refused treatment.

This incident occurred on Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Earlier that Friday, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama inaugurated their presidential center on the city’s South Side.

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed his sorrow in a message on X, saying, “What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.” Johnson further insisted, “Violence has no place in our city, and those responsible will be held accountable.”

Other major U.S. cities also faced gun-related violence over the weekend. Philadelphia reported two fatalities and two injuries from a Sunday morning shooting, as noted by Fox-29. In Cincinnati, a Saturday evening shooting resulted in three deaths, according to WLWT. Additionally, Kansas City, Missouri, authorities are investigating a Friday evening shooting that left one dead and five injured.

Associated Press writer Jack Brook reported from New Orleans.