12 People Killed by Gunfire in Chicago Over Memorial Day Weekend

Larissa M. Tyler | As of Wednesday, May 27, 2015


As Memorial Day commenced, a day where Americans pause to remember those who died in active military service, Chicago was plagued with shooting, once again, making national headlines as the gun violence capitol of the world.

Many of the unfortunate circumstances resulted in death. Twelve people, to be exact, were killed according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office and more than 50 more were wounded in shootings during the long holiday weekend.

Sadly, a 4-year-old girl was shot in the head at about 8 p.m. on Friday on the city's South Side.

It has been a dismal, ongoing, reoccurring theme in Chicago, where violence increases over the Memorial Day holiday.

Chicago Police Department statistics show that as of mid-May there were 133 homicides in Chicago — 19 more than in the same period last year.

Asiaha Butler, president of the Resident Association of Greater Englewood, the Chicago neighborhood where at least three of the shootings are reported to have happened, was reported as saying in article in Newsweek.com. that the situation is not as dire as the media has said.

“We know that this happens in very large metropolitan areas. Chicago is no different than what’s going on in Baltimore, Philly or Detroit,” said Butler, who lives in the Englewood area. “I stayed on my porch this entire weekend. I barbequed this weekend. I did not hear one gunshot.”

The victims, and families of the victims of these recent shootings, would more than likely, disagree with Butler.

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