Key facts
- At least seven people were killed and 38 injured in a series of shootings in Chicago over the weekend.
- President Donald Trump called for military intervention in Chicago, criticizing Governor J.B. Pritzker.
- Trump stated he could make Chicago one of the safest cities within a year.
- A mass shooting on Friday evening injured 12 individuals.
- Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the violence and pledged to hold those responsible accountable.
President Donald Trump has renewed his call for military intervention in Chicago following a weekend marked by a significant increase in shootings, which resulted in at least seven deaths and 38 injuries. Trump took to social media to question why Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has not requested federal assistance, asserting that he could significantly improve safety in the city within a year. The office of Governor Pritzker, who has previously rejected Trump's proposals for military intervention, did not immediately comment. Historically, under Trump's administration, National Guard troops were deployed to Democrat-led cities to combat crime. Data from the Chicago Police Department indicates a slight rise in shooting incidents compared to the previous year, though overall violent crime rates have seen a general decline in recent years, mirroring national trends.
Police reported that preliminary information showed at least two dozen shooting incidents occurred since Friday evening. Among the fatalities were a 21-year-old shot on Sunday, an 18-year-old on Saturday evening, and a 50-year-old on Friday. On Friday evening, a separate incident saw an SUV pull up and two individuals open fire, injuring 12 people in a crowd. These victims, eight men and four women aged 17 to 47, were hospitalized. Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed his dismay, stating that the Juneteenth celebrations were overshadowed by violence and promising accountability for those responsible.