At least 13 people were shot late Friday night when two gunmen in a passing SUV opened fire on a crowd gathered for a Juneteenth celebration on Chicago’s South Side, according to police.
The attack happened near West 95th Street and South Princeton Avenue in the Princeton Park neighborhood, part of the Roseland area, just after 11 p.m.
Chicago police said a red SUV pulled alongside a large group of people before two occupants began firing into the crowd.
The vehicle then sped away. Surveillance footage showed a burst of gunfire followed by people scattering and running for cover.
A Wave of Victims Across Several Hospitals
Officers arriving on the scene found two victims immediately. A 32-year-old woman had been shot twice in the back and was taken to Christ Hospital in good condition.
A 44-year-old man had four graze wounds to his back and was also listed in good condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Eleven additional people made their own way to area hospitals. Among them was a 17-year-old boy with a gunshot wound to the thigh, and a 26-year-old man who arrived in critical condition with wounds to his body.
Other victims ranged in age from 19 to 47 and were treated at Trinity Hospital, Christ Hospital, the University of Chicago Medical Center, and Little Company of Mary Hospital. Injuries included wounds to the thigh, back, head, knee, and torso.
Police said one more man in his twenties reported unknown injuries but declined medical treatment.
Days later, police said a 19-year-old woman who had been shot in the buttocks had also self-transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center, bringing the toll higher.
The Associated Press reported that two of the victims, both men, were initially listed in critical condition, including one with a gunshot wound to the thigh.
The group of victims included eight men and four women between the ages of 17 and 47.
Police said no arrests have been made and a motive remains unknown. Area Two detectives are leading the investigation.
Community Leaders Mourn a Holiday Turned Tragic
Neighbor Michael Blount said he was at home when he heard the gunfire begin. He described hearing rapid, repeated shots before sirens filled the street.
Blount said he was especially saddened that the violence happened on Juneteenth, a day meant for celebration rather than fear.
Alderman Anthony Beale released a statement calling the shooting heartbreaking and saying an ordinary summer night was shattered in seconds.
He said the violence does more than wound those caught in the crossfire; it chips away at the sense of security that holds a community together. Beale said residents would grieve together but would not surrender to fear.
Mayor Brandon Johnson said his administration continues working to remove illegal firearms from city streets and hold offenders accountable.
The shooting came on the same day former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the first visitors to his new presidential center on the South Side.
Pastor Donovan Price, a local advocate for victims of gun violence, told reporters it was a tragedy to see a mass shooting on a holiday meant for celebration, saying fireworks should not turn into gunshots.
Chicago police reported that more than 20 people were shot across the city between Friday evening and the weekend, with four deaths recorded during that span.
