69 People Shot in Chicago over Memorial Day Weekend

Shootings were up, murders were down.

6.1.2016

Chicago had a staggering 69 people shot over the Memorial Day weekend.

Many of the shootings took place on the West Side. "In all, 27 of the 69 people hit by gunfire over the weekend were shot in or near the Harrison District, one of the city's most violent and one of the most heavily patrolled by police."

The weekend saw a steady stream of crime victims.

The breakdown from the weekend is: Three people killed and 12 people wounded Friday afternoon through early Saturday; one person killed and 24 people wounded Saturday evening through early Sunday; 13 people wounded Sunday afternoon through early Monday; and 16 people shot Monday into early Tuesday, two of them fatally.

Deputy Superintendent John Escalante said on Sunday he would beef up patrols near the Harrison District. Nevertheless, nine more people were shot by Tuesday morning.

There is some good news:

While the number of shootings was up from last year, the number of deaths was down. Last year, 12 people were killed and 44 wounded over the holiday weekend. This weekend, 13 more people were shot, but six fewer people were killed.

There were no shooting deaths for more than 48 hours starting late Saturday afternoon through late Monday.

After the holiday weekend, the 2016 tally for people shot in the Chicago area is around 1,500 and at least 250 killed. This time last year the tally was at 957 shot and 164 killed.