Three mass shootings were reported in the Chicago area in two days over the Father’s Day weekend, including a Juneteenth celebration that left more than 20 people dead.
The weekend was the deadliest mass shooting in a southwest Chicago suburb. Two other shootings were reported in Chicago, each involving at least five people, authorities said.
The first shooting happened around 4:40 a.m. Saturday, when five people were injured near Chicago’s popular Lincoln Park Zoo in the 1900 block of North Stockton Drive. Four of the victims are listed in critical condition.
The youngest of the injured, a 17-year-old girl, was in stable condition, police said.
Investigators believe the shooting stemmed from a disagreement.
The second and more violent incident happened just before 12:30 a.m. Sunday, when gunfire erupted during a celebration in Willowbrook.
The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office said the Juneteenth celebration near Hinsdale Lake Terrace was peaceful, but turned violent in the early morning hours.
Police said multiple weapons were fired during the incident and an unknown number of suspects opened fire on the crowd.
As of Monday morning, one person was killed and at least 22 others were injured, the sheriff’s office said. According to officials, several others were injured as they ran away from the gunfire.
Police said officers were initially monitoring the celebration, but were called to respond to another 911 call.
Hours later, Illinois Governor JP Pritzker said he was “closely monitoring” what happened.
“…gathering for a holiday celebration should be a joyous occasion, not a time when gunfire erupts and families are forced to run for safety,” his statement read in part.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre he tweeted on Sunday afternoon President Joe Biden also offers help after the shooting.
Hours later, on Sunday night, two people were killed and three others wounded in a shooting at Smith Park in Chicago’s Roseland neighborhood.
According to police, a group in a gray Honda sedan arrived shortly before 8pm and opened fire.
A 37-year-old man died in the shooting. Another person was listed in critical condition but later pronounced dead at an area hospital. The other three were in good condition.
In these three incidents, at least 33 people were shot and killed, including three who were killed.
As of Monday morning, no one was in custody for either incident.
