7 Gunned Down in Chicago Including a Pregnant Woman

As of Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, 4:25 p.m. ET, an updated report shows that the number of shootings in Chicago, since the beginning of the year, totals 382. This figure includes the seven killings on Wednesday; no arrests have been made for any of the murders. One of Wednesday’s tragedies was the fatal shooting of a woman, nine months pregnant, named Wilteeah Jones that involved her 20-year-old boyfriend, who was a known gang member.

The total shootings in Chicago were 371 at the same time last year, as stated by the Chicago Law Enforcement Agency. The killing of Jones and her boyfriend took place at East 76th and South Champlain Avenue, in the Chatham area, around 8:30 p.m. The killer was in the car, at the time, with both victims. New eyewitnesses explained that they believe Jones jumped out of the automobile and dashed from the scene before she was shot.

Earlier Shootings

In a single day, there were seven killings. Wednesday morning, at 7:26 a.m., a 60-year-old man was transported to Mount Sinai after he was found bleeding in his home garage. He died from wounds to the mouth, back, and neck, police said.

At 7:35 p.m., a 44-year-old male died from a gunshot wound to the head. The police pronounced him dead upon arrival. A 31-year-old man was pronounced dead at 8:35 p.m. on the scene of a slaying in the 11400 Block of South Ada Street, which is a district in South Chicago. Gunshot wounds to the head and back took his life. Law enforcement said a person of interest was being interrogated.

On the 9100 Block of South Emerald Street, around 8:50 p.m., the last killing of the day took place. It involved a 24-year-old male, who was standing on the walkway. Witnesses stated that a dark-colored sedan pulled up and fired many shots into the young man. The victim was pronounced dead after being transported to Christ Hospital.

Deadly Weekend

However, that was just the beginning. There was more bloodshed. Things took a turn for the worst on Feb. 26, when three men were killed. Nine others were wounded in shootings across Chicago, between Friday evening and Sunday morning. The most current non-deadly shooting took place Saturday night on Chicago’s Near West Side. Shortly before midnight, a 25-year-old man ran into Stroger Hospital with a gunshot wound to his right knee. He is now in stable condition.

Three individuals, along with a 15-year-old girl, were shot around 8 a.m. Saturday, in the South Shore district. The group was sitting in a vehicle when they returned fire with people riding in a black Chevrolet Tahoe, law enforcement said. One shot hit a 15-year-old girl in her left buttock. She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where it was announced that she is in stable condition.

Sunday, on the South Side of Chicago, a silver Chevrolet Malibu drove by and fired shots at two 18-year-old males, who were getting into a parked car. One man was pronounced dead, police said, after being rushed to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. He died from a gunshot to the back. The other victim survived. However, he suffered a cut to his left ear, due to shattered glass from the car.

City on Fire

Chicago is recognized for being the most gang contaminated city in the nation. The city alone has a population of over 100,000 gang members, who are active. This comes from 60 various factions. In Chicago, gang retaliation and conflict has become an everyday battle. In 2011, gangs were accountable for 61 percent of Chicago’s homicides.

Garry McCarthy, the former Chicago Police Superintendent, placed the blame for the astronomical murder rate on the gang-way-of-life. He stated: “And it’s very frustrating to know that it’s like 7 percent of the population causes 80 percent of the violent crime….The gangs here are traditional gangs that are generational, if you will. The grandfather was a gang member, the father’s a gang member, and the kid right now is going to be a gang member.”

Reports state that 2016 marked the deadliest year Chicago has seen in over 20 years. There were 762 documented shootings. In February 2017, it was reported that there have been over 91 homicides so far this year. This is compared to 93, in February last year.

By Jomo Merritt
Edited by Jeanette Smith

Sources:

WGNtv.com7: killed, including pregnant woman, in Chicago’s deadliest day of 2017
The Chicago Tribune: Pregnant woman among 7 killed in Chicago’s deadliest day this year
ABC7 Chicago: BABY KILLED, PREGNANT WOMAN, 20-YEAR-OLD MAN FATALLY SHOT
PBS News Hour: Gangs and guns fuel Chicago’s summer surge of violence

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