Chicago Sees Violent Memorial Day Weekend With At Least 11 Killed, 50 Wounded in Shootings

Chicago in 2022 saw a violent start to the summer, with nine people fatally shot and more than 50 people injured by gunfire over Memorial Day weekend. This year, those numbers are higher.

Data from Chicago police show that from 6p.m. Friday to 11:59 p.m. Monday, at least 11 people were killed and at least 53 others, including two 2-year-olds, were wounded in shootings across the city.

According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, it was the deadliest Memorial Day weekend in Chicago in eight years.

“It’s been a uptick, a trend, and I’ve been telling them and letting the know. Lock the gun down!" Community activist Andrew Holmes said. "You just cannot let your boyfriend, your family members keep coming inside your house with a weapon of mass destruction and your baby gets a hold to it.”

The holiday weekend in Chicago got off to a violent start Friday afternoon, when someone fired shots at North Avenue Beach during what appeared to be a confrontation. No injuries were reported, and the beach was closed as a result. According to officials, at least one juvenile suspect was taken into custody.

"There were just swarms of people running toward us," said Maggie Coleman, who was visiting the beach at the time of the incident.

Mayor Brandon Johnson released the following statement in regards to the violence across Chicago this past weekend:

“The violence our city experienced this weekend is intolerable. It produced pain and trauma that devastated communities across Chicago, and my heart breaks for everyone affected. That's why as mayor, I am committed to leveraging every single resource at our disposal to protect every single life in our city."

"This holiday weekend, thousands of police officers, first responders, city workers, business leaders, organizers, faith leaders, and violence interrupters tirelessly dedicated themselves to keeping Chicago safe. I offer my deep gratitude to all those involved. We have much more work to do, but the work performed by these individuals this weekend is the foundation for how we will ultimately secure safety together." 

"As a result of their efforts, thousands of Chicagoans and visitors enjoyed themselves safely at beaches, festivals, and neighborhood events across the city. Tragically, however, too many others were unable to. But I know none of us will rest until every Chicagoan can safely enjoy all the beauty our city has to offer.”     

Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, The Illinois Department of Human Services and Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced that the state had planned to send a Citywide Crisis Prevention and Response Unit to Chicago for Memorial Day weekend in an effort to help keep residents safe.

Additionally, Mayor Brandon Johnson, Interim Chicago Police Supt. Fred Waller and other city officials on Thursday unveiled a safety plan that included increased police presence, bag checks at beaches, canceling days off for officers and more.

”My administration’s top priority is making sure there is a comprehensive, whole of government strategy across our city and that its making people safe,” Johnson said Thursday.

Nine Shot, Killed Over Memorial Day Weekend in Chicago

The first fatal shooting of the weekend occurred just before 1 a.m. Saturday in the 7800 block of South Seeley, in the city's Beverly View neighborhood.

According to police, a 33-year-old man was found unresponsive on a sidewalk after he had been shot in the left armpit. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and no suspects are in custody.

Also on Saturday, just after 2 a.m. in the Lakeview neighborhood, 34-year-old William Hair was found lying on a sidewalk after he had been shot in the chest, police said.

The man was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

"Three blocks from his house, a car pulled up. Two people came out. There were two gunshots, one from each person," the victim's brother Matthew Hair said. "They did not ask for money. They did not ask for anything. They shot at him for no reason."

No suspects are in custody, and police are continuing to investigate.

Two people were shot in the Heart of Chicago, in the 2300 block of West 18^th Street at approximately 2:55 a.m. Saturday. Both victims were standing on a sidewalk when shots were fired, according to police.

A 36-year-old man was struck in the face by gunfire, and was pronounced dead at an area hospital. Another victim, a 37-year-old woman, was also hit in the face, and was listed in critical condition.

Two additional fatal shootings occurred within less than an hour of one another Saturday morning, including one in the 1100 block of North Ridgeway, police said.

When authorities arrived at the scene, they found a man that had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. He was taken by another individual to a hospital before Chicago paramedics transferred him to another facility.

He was later pronounced dead. No suspects are in custody.

Just before noon Saturday in the 7900 block of South Ashland, four people were shot by a person in a passing vehicle.

A 69-year-old woman was struck while sitting in a vehicle, and she later died from her injuries.

A 26-year-old man was hit in the shoulder, a 34-year-old man was hit in the left arm, and a 55-year-old man was shot in the back. All three were hospitalized in good condition, police said.

No suspects are in custody.

At approximately 9:50 p.m. in the 9800 block of South Avenue L, a 20-year-old man was walking on a sidewalk when he was shot in the back.

According to police, the man was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

A 26-year-old man exiting a gas station in the 500 block of East 67^th Street was shot by a person in a while SUV at approximately 10:54 p.m. Saturday.

Police say the man was shot in the back, and was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday in the 1000 block of West 105^th Street, a 20-year-old man was walking on a sidewalk when two men walked up to him and opened fire, striking him multiple times in the head and legs.

Police say the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

At Least 50 Wounded in Shootings Across Chicago

Monday –

• At approximately 1:43 a.m. in the 9100 block of South Harper, three victims were standing on a sidewalk when someone inside a black sedan fired shots. A 59-year-old male was transported to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound to the arm in good condition. A 57-year-old female was transported to a nearby hospital with a gunshot wound to the head in critical condition, and a 77-year-old male was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition with a gunshot wound to the back. No one was in custody.
• At 2:53 a.m., a 38-year-old male was standing in the courtyard of a building in the 13100 block of South Ingleside when shots were fired. The victim struck in the leg and was transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition.
• A 33-year-old woman was inside a vehicle in the 2500 block of South Saint Louis at approximately 7:35 a.m. when she was shot in the right thigh. Police say she drove herself to an area hospital, where she was listed in good condition.
• At approximately 4 p.m. in the 700 block of North Hamlin, a 43-year-old man was on the street when an altercation broke out, with the assailant shooting the victim in the thigh. The man was taken to an area hospital in good condition, police said.
• A man was inside a vehicle in the 5400 block of South Halsted at approximately 4:30 p.m. when he was hit in the back by gunfire, according to police. The man was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
• In the 7900 block of South Clyde at approximately 4:45 p.m., a 22-year-old man was inside a residence when he was shot in the face. Police say the man was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
• Police say a 36-year-old man was standing near a street in the 700 block of North Pine at approximately 7:05 p.m. when he was shot in both legs. He was taken to an area hospital in good condition.
• At 9:03 p.m. in the 7300 block of South Carpenter, a group of people was standing on the sidewalk when shots were fired. A male victim, 40, sustained a gunshot wound to the back and shoulder. He was taken to a nearby hospital and last listed in critical condition.
• At approximately 9:59 p.m., police say a 23-year-old man was standing in the alley in the 1300 block of South Kildare when police say he heard gunshots and ran from the scene. The victim felt pain and discovered he had been shot multiple times in the arm, torso and groin. He was dropped off at a nearby hospital in good condition.
• Police say a 16-year-old boy was standing on the sidewalk at 10:18 p.m. in the 4700 block of West Augusta when a white SUV approached and someone inside fired multiple shots at the victim. The boy sustained gunshot wounds to the thigh and was transported to a nearby hospital in good condition.

Sunday –

• At approximately 12:50 a.m. in the 600 block of West Barry, three men were shot while standing on a sidewalk. One of the victims was taken to an area hospital in serious condition after he was hit in the back. Two other men, a 22-year-old and a 32-year-old, were hospitalized in good condition.
• In the 4700 block of South Honore at approximately 12:55 a.m., a 39-year-old man was shot in the foot, police said. The man was taken to an area hospital in good condition.
•  A 22-year-old woman was sitting in a car in the 700 block of West 54^th Street at approximately 1:44 a.m. when she was shot in the head. Police say friends of the woman brought her to an area hospital, where she was listed in serious condition.
• Police say a 26-year-old man was walking in the 2700 block of West Ogden at approximately 2:50 a.m. when a person in a black sedan shot him in the left leg. He was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
• At approximately 3:54 a.m. in the 3300 block of West Douglas Boulevard, a 23-year-old woman was on a sidewalk when she was shot in the buttocks. Police say the woman was taken to an area hospital in good condition.
• A 60-year-old sustained a gunshot wound to the left leg at around 1 p.m. in the 1000 block of South Normal. The victim was walking down an alley when an unknown vehicle drove by and someone inside fired shots, striking the victim, according to police.
• A 30-year-old man was shot in the left hand at around 1:58 p.m. in the 11900 block of South Michigan. The victim was driving his car when a white-colored sedan pulled up alongside the victim, he heard shots and felt pain. The victim was taken to the hospital in good condition.
• At around 4 p.m. in the 8600 block of South Loomis, a 34-year-old man sustained a gunshot wound to the stomach, police said. The victim heard and felt shots, police said, and he was later found laying between two houses in a gangway. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
• In the 5900 block of West Superior at around 4:45 p.m., a 30-year-old man was shot in the lower leg during a domestic incident. A known offender produced a handgun and fired shots, striking the victim, according to police.
• A 2-year-old girl accidentally shot herself at around 6:15 p.m. in the 1500 block of West Jonquil Terrace. Upon arrival, officers discovered a two-year-old who had been shot in the right hand. According to authorities, the young girl found a gun and accidentally discharged the weapon, striking herself in the forearm.
• A 21-year-old man was shot at around 6:22 p.m. in the 7600 block of West Ford City, police said. A 24-year-old man who was approached by the 21-year-old man who produced a handgun and fired shots, police said. The victim returned fire, striking the offender in the thigh area. The victim, who possesses a valid Firearms Owner Identification Card and a Concealed Carry License, was not taken into custody.
• A 50-year-old woman around 4:15 p.m. in the 1200 block of North Western Ave. sustained a self-inflicted gun shot wound to the leg. The woman self-transported to a nearby hospital and was last listed in good condition. According to a report from the Chicago Sun-Times, the shooting was "accidental."
• At approximately 10:43 p.m., a 2-year-old male was "playing in a bedroom with a known adult male "in the 7900 block of South Hermitage when a handgun was discharged, police said. The victim was transported to a nearby hospital with gunshot wound to the hand. He was last listed in fair condition. No one is in custody and detectives are investigating.

Saturday –                                   

• In the 3000 block of West Jackson at approximately 1:11 a.m., a 16-year-old female was standing on a sidewalk when she was shot in the right side, police said. She was hospitalized in fair condition.
• At approximately 1:18 a.m. in the 900 block of North Randolph, a 33-year-old man was standing on a sidewalk when a person in a passing vehicle shot him in the chest. Police say the victim was hospitalized in critical condition.
• A 25-year-old man was found inside of a vehicle in the 1400 block of West 49^th Street at approximately 1:18 a.m. He had sustained a gunshot wound to the head, and was hospitalized in critical condition, according to police.
• Police say a man was dropped off at a local hospital at approximately 1:26 a.m. for treatment for a gunshot wound to the head. He was listed in critical condition.
• In the 2400 block of South Homan at approximately 3:20 a.m., a 22-year-old man was standing in a group when he was shot in the chest. According to police, he was taken to an area hospital in serious condition.
• At approximately 3:04 a.m. in the 4700 block of West Monroe, a 34-year-old man was arguing with another individual when he was shot in the right leg, police said. The man was taken to an area hospital in fair condition.
• A 21-year-old man was walking in the 4300 block of West Gladys at approximately 5:32 a.m. when he was struck in the lower back by gunfire. According to police, he was hospitalized in serious condition.
• Police say a 24-year-old man transported himself to a local hospital after he was shot in the left foot in the 2800 block of West 19^th Street at approximately 7:15 a.m. His condition has since stabilized.
• At a hotel in the 300 block of North Dearborn, a 23-year-old man was handling a gun when it appeared to accidentally discharge, striking him and a 25-year-old man. The older individual was hit in the stomach, and the 23-year-old was hit in the hand. Both were hospitalized in fair condition.
• At approximately 3:14 p.m. in the 3800 block of South Michigan Avenue, a 45-year-old woman was shot in the shoulder during an altercation, police said. Authorities say the woman was hospitalized in fair condition.
• A 14-year-old was standing on a sidewalk in the 7000 block of South Ada when they suffered a graze wound to the arm from gunfire. Police say the teen declined medical treatment, and no suspects are in custody.

Friday –

• At approximately 5:39 p.m. in the 6300 block of West Montrose, a 29-year-old man was approached by another individual who opened fire, striking the victim in the stomach. He was taken to an area hospital in critical condition.
• A 32-year-old man was shot in the leg and was dropped off at an area hospital in critical condition, police said. No further details were immediately available.
• In the 9700 block of South Merrill at approximately 10:24 p.m., a 17-year-old male was shot as he opened his front door. Police say the teen was hit in the upper-left thigh, and was hospitalized in good condition.