Chicago: 7 Dead, 38 Injured in Weekend Shooting Spree as Trump Demands Military Intervention

Seven people are dead and 38 others injured in a wave of shootings across Chicago over the Juneteenth holiday weekend, according to the Chicago Police Department. The violence has reignited a political fight between President Donald Trump and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker over whether federal troops should be deployed to the city.

The Juneteenth Mass Shooting

The deadliest single incident occurred on Friday night near West 95th Street and South Princeton Avenue in the Princeton Park neighborhood. According to police, a red SUV pulled alongside a large crowd celebrating Juneteenth. Two suspects inside the vehicle opened fire on the gathering before fleeing the scene.

At least 12 people were injured in that shooting. Victims ranged in age from 17 to 47. Eight men and four women were transported to four different hospitals. Police said a 13th person refused medical treatment after sustaining unknown injuries.

"What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence," Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a post on X Saturday. "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones."

The mass shooting happened less than five miles from the Obama Presidential Center, where former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama had welcomed the first visitors earlier that same day.

A Weekend of Gun Violence

The Juneteenth shooting was only the start of a violent weekend. According to CBS Chicago and the Chicago Police Department, at least two dozen shooting incidents occurred from 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday evening.

The seven confirmed fatalities include:

• A 21-year-old man shot in the chest Sunday morning on the South Side
• A 33-year-old man found unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds Friday night on West 30th Street
• A 34-year-old man found unresponsive with a gunshot wound to the chest Friday night on North Latrobe Avenue
• A 50-year-old man shot in the chest Friday night on West 75th Street
• A 37-year-old man shot in the neck Saturday early morning on East 38th Street
• A 29-year-old man shot multiple times in the face and body Friday night on South Michigan Avenue
• A 14-year-old boy found with multiple gunshot wounds Thursday night on South Carpenter Street

Additional victims included a 70-year-old man struck by gunfire on Friday night and a 17-year-old boy shot in the chest Sunday morning in the Brighton Park neighborhood. The teen was taken to the University of Chicago Hospital in critical condition, according to ABC7 Chicago.

Trump Calls for Military Deployment

President Trump used the violence to renew his demand for federal military intervention in Chicago. He posted on Truth Social on Sunday morning:

"Why isn't Governor Pritzker calling me for help. I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE YEAR, it would be one of the safest!!!"

Trump pointed to Washington, D.C. as evidence that his approach works. Under his administration, National Guard troops have been deployed to crime-fighting missions in Democratic-led cities including New Orleans, Washington, D.C., and Memphis, Tennessee.

Governor Pritzker has repeatedly rejected Trump's calls for military deployment. The governor's office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Sunday, according to the Associated Press.

A recent study from the nonpartisan Niskanen Center found that the National Guard's presence had minimal effect on violent crime in Washington, D.C., according to The Guardian.

The Bigger Picture

Chicago Police Department data shows a slight uptick in shooting incidents compared to the first half of last year. However, violent crime rates in Chicago have generally dropped over the past few years, in parallel with national trends, according to the AP.

"Violence has no place in our city, and those responsible will be held accountable," Mayor Johnson said.

No arrests have been made in connection with the Juneteenth mass shooting. Detectives are continuing their investigation, police said.