CHICAGO — A violent Fourth of July weekend in Chicago continued with two separate mass shootings on the city’s Southwest Side, leaving 11 people wounded between late Friday night and early Saturday morning. The incidents happened just days after a deadly River North shooting that killed four and injured 14 others.
7 People Shot in Back of the Yards Friday Night
Around 11:10 p.m. Friday, police say two gunmen approached a group of people gathered in the 4800 block of South Justine Street and opened fire. Seven people were hit in the attack — four women and three men.
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A 25-year-old woman shot in the buttock and a 42-year-old man hit in the calf were listed in critical condition at University of Chicago Hospital.
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Another 25-year-old woman with a torso wound and a 29-year-old man with an arm wound were in serious condition.
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The three others — a 21-year-old man and two women ages 21 and 27 — were shot in the legs and taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, all in serious condition.
4 Men Shot in Parked Car Early Saturday
Just under three hours later, at around 1:45 a.m. Saturday, four men sitting in a parked vehicle near California Avenue and 27th Street were ambushed. A dark SUV drove past and someone opened fire on them from inside.
All four men self-transported to Mt. Sinai Hospital, according to police:
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Victims aged 25, 26, and 32 were each shot multiple times and remain in critical condition.
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A 33-year-old man was hit in the leg and is in fair condition.
No suspects are in custody in either case. Detectives are actively investigating both shootings.
Comes Days After River North Mass Shooting
These incidents follow the River North mass shooting late Wednesday, when a gunman fired into a crowd outside Artis Restaurant, where a mixtape release party was being held for rapper Mello Buckzz.
That attack killed four people and injured 14 more, including Mello Buckzz’s boyfriend and a close friend. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said the restaurant had been privately rented and was specifically targeted.
“It is safe to say this venue was targeted,” Supt. Snelling stated during a Thursday press conference at City Hall.
Victims were honored at a vigil Thursday evening, including Taylor Walker, 26, one of the individuals killed. No arrests have been made in the River North case.
Chicago Sees Deadly Holiday Violence
As of Saturday afternoon, at least 44 people had been shot in Chicago over the holiday weekend — six fatally — according to ABC7. By comparison, the 2024 Fourth of July weekend saw 19 people killed and over 80 wounded citywide.
Were you in the Back of the Yards or Little Village neighborhoods during these incidents? Have you been personally impacted by Chicago’s recent uptick in gun violence? Share your story in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com.
