After a brazen attack in a Chicago park left 13 people injured, a White House spokeswoman said President Barack Obama was "dismayed."
“The President was dismayed to learn of yet another deplorable act of gun violence, this time in his hometown of Chicago. He sends his thoughts and prayers to the several victims who were shot last night and hopes for their speedy recovery," according to White House spokeswoman Joanna Rosholm.
Rosholm also noted the President is committed to pushing Congress to pass commonsense measures and said he is doing everything in his executive power to reduce gun violence.”
Witnesses said several gunmen fired at least 20 shots at a group gathered at Cornell Square Park, on the 1800 block of W. 51st Street, shortly before 10:15 p.m. The spray of bullets sent a mass of people to the ground on the basketball courts.
The victims included 10 males and three females, including 3-year-old Deonta Howard.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel also spoke out on the shootings, along with several other local politicians.
"We cannot allow children in the city of Chicago, and we will not allow children in the city of Chicago to have their youthfulness, their optimism, their hope taken from them," Emanuel said. "That’s what gun violence does. That is wrong."
As of Friday evening, no one was in custody for the shooting.
In total, 24 people were shot overnight Thursday, four of them fatally.
