Teen Killed, Eight Injured in Chicago Holiday Weekend Shootings

CHICAGO – A night of holiday celebrations turned chaotic as one teenager was killed and eight others were injured in two separate shootings in downtown Chicago Friday night.

The shootings occurred just hours after the city’s official Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Millennium Park, where thousands gathered to kick off the holiday season. The first shooting took place around 9:50 p.m. in the 100 block of North State Street, near the Chicago Theatre, where officers on patrol heard gunshots and saw a large group scattering.

Seven teenagers, aged 13 to 17, were injured in this incident. They suffered gunshot wounds mainly to their legs and were taken to various hospitals in fair to good condition, according to the Chicago Police Department.

Less than an hour later, police responded to another shooting in the 100 block of South Dearborn Street around 10:40 p.m. There, they found two victims: a 14-year-old boy who later died from multiple gunshot wounds at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and an 18-year-old man who was in serious condition with a leg wound.

Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the media Saturday morning, expressing frustration at the violence during a time meant for community togetherness. He stated, “We have too many guns and too many young people who do not value their lives or the lives of others.” He mentioned that officials had been monitoring social media posts about possible “teen takeovers” before the holiday festivities.

Despite having deployed 700 additional officers and community violence intervention workers, the police found themselves responding to violent disturbances. The mayor indicated that an additional 300 officers would be on duty for the next day’s Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.

In a social media post, Ald. Brian Hopkins noted that around 300 juveniles had been “rioting” in the Loop during the incidents. He also reported multiple injuries to police officers from being attacked with mace and stun guns, although this has not been independently verified.

Community leaders are urging parents to ensure their children are supervised during large gatherings. One community violence interrupter, Pastor Donovan Price, advised, “Bring some family with you, an adult, and just watch out.” On Friday night, as police worked to maintain order, they arrested 18 individuals for various offenses, but none were connected to the shootings.

As investigations continue, no suspects have been arrested in connection with either shooting. The police are seeking any information that may lead to arrests and are encouraging the public to report tips anonymously.