Is violence driving Chicago to the breaking point?
Another violent weekend leaves six dead in Chicago; reaction from Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell and criminal defense attorney Anthony Tall.
Fourteen people were shot, three fatally, including a woman sitting in a Lyft, in Chicago Friday and early Saturday, according to reports.
Around 12:30 a.m. Saturday, multiple people came up to the woman in the vehicle in the Back of the Yards neighborhood and opened fire, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The 27-year-old woman was shot in the back and taken to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
Angie Castro told the Chicago Tribune her boyfriend was driving the Lyft the woman was shot in.
“He was shocked, nervous,” she told the paper.
Police said a 20-year-old man was killed around 8:30 p.m. Friday in a drive-by shooting in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on the West Side, the Sun-Times reported. The bullets were fired from a passing dark-colored vehicle.
Friday’s first homicide happened about 12:35 a.m. in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side, the paper reported.
George Jackson, 31, was sitting on a porch when two male gunmen approached and opened fire, according to the paper.
He was struck in his face, pelvis and both legs. He died an hour later.
FOUR PEOPLE KILLED, NEARLY 60 SHOT THIS WEEKEND ACROSS CHICAGO
The Tribune said a 21-year-old man was critically wounded when he shot in the head when gunfire erupted around 6:50 p.m. Friday in the Bronzeville neighborhood. Two 17-year-olds were struck in the ankles.
Witnesses told the paper a teen stood over one of the victims and pleaded with them to stay conscious.
“Please don’t die,” the teen pleaded.
The shootings come one week after the city's second bloodiest of the year, with 58 people shot and seven killed.
Chicago Rahm Emanuel is under increasing pressure to take action or resign as the crime problems mount.
This month he drew criticism for blaming a lack of “moral structure” in predominantly black and Hispanic neighborhoods for the crime spree.
“This may not be politically correct," he said, "but I know the power of what faith and family can do....Our kids need that structure...I am asking...that we also don’t shy away from a full discussion about the importance of family and faith helping to develop and nurture character, self-respect, a value system and a moral compass that allows kids to know good from bad and right from wrong.”
On Monday, Chicago's top cop said that judges need to impose tougher sentences in gun prosecutions.
“These shootings are not random,” Supt. Eddie Johnson said. “They’re fueled by gang conflicts. We know who they are."
He added, “If people don’t give us the information we need, and our judicial partners don’t hold them accountable, would you stop if that’s what you wanted to do? You know, it’s ridiculous.”
