Friday Night (Police) Lights

It was a lovely evening that behaved more like a mid-summer night after a 95 degree afternoon. A total of 11 people were shot resulting in three (3) dead. May is averaging nearly five (5) people shot and wounded or killed per day.

In one of the incidents last night, one of those evil “assault weapons” made a rare appearance:

“Police found three guns near a garbage can in an alley near the crime scene: two described by police as Tec-9 or similar-styled handguns and one AK-47-styled gun with wood components.

Residents nearby described the gunfire as rapid and loud. At least two people approached the crowd and fired shots, tried to flee in a van but couldn’t, left the van in an alley and ran south on Kostner, police said.”

It’s a good thing that both types of guns are illegal within the city limits or else someone may have gotten hurt.

-WHT

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Shootings down, Red Line up

A trend we’re starting to observe is when there are days with a large number of shootings, the following few days tend to be quiet. Since the 21 shootings on Tuesday and Wednesday, we’ve seen just four (4) shootings since then with three (3) wounded and one (1) dead.

Also, don’t forget that the Red Line reconstruction starts Sunday and will last for 5 months. We’ll be keeping an eye on the non-murder stats to see if there’s a drop in crime in those areas north of the project zone, especially in the Loop, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park and Lakeview neighborhoods.

- WHT

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8 + $200K

As expected, perfect weather causes an outbreak of lead poisoning, particularly in the late afternoon and early evening where total of eight (8) people were shot yesterday.

Also in the news was another wilding on Michigan Ave, this time resulting in a rather large dollar amount:

“Police are searching for a group of robbers who stole as much as $200,000 in jewelry and cash from a 69-year-old woman in front of a North Michigan Avenue store.

The robbers took several thousand dollars in cash and several pieces of jewelry, including a diamond brooch valued at about $50,000, authorities said. The woman told police the value of the items, including the jewelry, cash and her purse, was as much as $200,000, sources said.”

UPDATE: CPD is now saying it never happened; story made up.

- WHT

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High temps = lead poisoning

As we said yesterday, the forecast was perfect “for some shootin’ and killin’”. It’s no surprise that yesterday’s warm, summer-like weather “lead” to a total of 13 shot resulting in two (2) dead. The two homicides last night both occurred in Englewood, which now moves back into the top spot after losing it to South Shore a few days ago.

- WHT

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Improved Accuracy + Warmin’ Up

Last night saw a total of four (4) shot resulting in two (2) dead. The past two days have seen a total of 10 shot ending in four (4) dead. A 40% shot-to-kill percentage is about 4x the normal range of 10-15%. Either someone is giving lessons or the shooters are getting bolder and closer to their intended victims.

In other news, we’ll get to test out the warmer temps, more lead poisoning theory today:

“It could be more than 50 degrees warmer today than Monday — the most dramatic warm-up the Chicago area has seen during May.

Today’s predicted high of 88 degrees would be a 52-degree increase from Monday morning’s frosty 36-degree low. That would be a first here and establish a new record for the greatest two-day temperature change in the month of May.”

Most concerning would be this line:

“Temperatures are predicted to hold at unseasonably mild levels 18 degrees above normal overnight.”

The perfect time and weather for some shootin’ and killin’.

- WHT

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Weekend Wrap Up

What started out as a relatively quiet weekend, with only two (2) shot on Friday night and into Saturday morning has ended up being a rather bloody Mother’s Day. Yesterday, three (3) have been killed, two (2) by gunfire and another was beaten. In addition, 11 were shot and wounded since Friday evening.

It was an unseasonably cool weekend, but we’re looking at 80s and maybe even a touch of 90s this week. Recent history says that once we surpass 80, especially in the evening, the lead will fly.

- WHT

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Happy Mother’s Day

More unseasonal cold overnight has helped keep the lead from flying en masse, but six (6) people still managed to find themselves shot ending up in one (1) death. With the latest homicide taking place in the South Shore neighborhood, that neighborhood has now taken the most violent crown from the long running champ, Englewood.

The reporting on one shooting last night contained this gem:

“Police said the man wasn’t “exactly cooperative,” and that he’s expected to recover from the single gunshot wound he sustained to his abdomen.”

Given how few are ever arrested, tried and convicted for shooting someone, “uncooperative” is assumed.

- WHT

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Cool weather makes for just 2

Unseasonal cold (40′s overnight) and dampness has helped keep a lid on the violence. Just two (2) reported shot overnight bringing the total shot and wounded in May up to 31. By the same date in April, we were at 27 and 19 in March. With forecasted temps in the 80s next week, expect the usual uptick in shootings and homicides.

- WHT

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Ro Sham Bo – Rain beats lead

Rain moved in and stuck around during the entire preferred shootin’ and killin’ time, 4p – midnight. No reported homicides or shootings last night.

In other news, a man was shot in a suburban home invasion:

“A 30-year-old man was shot in Orland Park during an early morning home invasion, police said.

Police said that two people forced entry into the home and shot the man inside before stealing “items.”

It’s a good thing the police got there just in time to find him shot or else something bad may have happened. The two robbers better have FOID cards or else!

- WHT

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Busy, busy night

Last evening saw the busiest night since last Tuesday’s free-for-all. A total of ten (10) people were shot resulting in one (1) dead and nine (9) wounded. The Chicago Lawn neighborhood tallied 4 of the 10 which now has it tied for 5th for the most violent neighborhoods since April 1st.

In other news, the latest polling on Tiny Dancer’s job performance was released:

“Mayor Rahm Emanuel faces growing voter disenchantment, particularly among African-Americans, even as the overall number approving of his job performance holds steady at the halfway point of his first term, a new Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows.

If there is a high point for Emanuel, given Chicago’s political history, it is the poll’s finding that 54 percent of city voters believe the mayor is “honest or trustworthy” compared with 34 percent who disagree.”

Good lord.

- WHT

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.357 Aldercreature

Yesterday saw a total of two (2) dead and another three (3) shot and wounded. May’s shootings to date are running ahead of April’s by 23 to 19 margin.

In other news, a former Aldercreature was arrested on weapons charges:

“A former Chicago alderman was ordered held on bond today after being charged with illegally carrying a loaded gun at a West Side police station over the weekend, authorities said.

The officer went up to Dixon to ask her about the gun, and she showed him a .357-caliber revolver, police said. The officer brought her into the station and arrested her.”

Nice piece selection, but something tells us she was all for disarming her subjects, er, constituents while in office.

- WHT

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Tick, Tock, Shot, Shot

Like a metronome, the steady beat of shootings continues with three (3) shot since last evening. One incident saw a CPD officer accidentally shoot a fellow officer:

“A Chicago police officer was shot in the leg by a fellow officer who had fired at a charging dog Monday night in the Englewood neighborhood, authorities said.

When the dog charged toward them, an officer fired a single shot that struck the dog and also hit another officer in the thigh, according to a police source. It was unclear if the bullet struck the officer or the dog first, the source said.”

It looks as if one officer will never have to buy beer again.

- WHT

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Not Too Bad a Weekend

By Chicago standards, not too bad a weekend with a total of two (2) dead and an additional nine (9) shot and wounded. The sole individual killed by gunfire this weekend was a 16 year old shot by the CPD after seen shooting at pedestrians, which marks the 4th CPD-related homicide this year.

“Police shot and killed a 16-year-old boy who was firing shots at pedestrians in North Lawndale Sunday afternoon, authorities said.

When the officers began pursuing him, he turned toward them and fired shots, prompting officers to return fire, police said.”

We’re eagerly awaiting the graduation pictures, “was a good kid”, “honor student” and “it’s all the cops fault” stories and commentary.

- WHT

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Cuatro por el Cinco de Mayo

A rare quiet period continues with one (1) stabbing death and an additional three (3) shot since yesterday afternoon.

Overnight, a rent-a-cop shot up an SUV in the heart of one of Chicago’s nightlife districts:

“In the River North neighborhood near downtown, four people were taken into custody after a security guard at a BP gas station on Ontario Street opened fire at an SUV that police said tried to run him over.

Four people were taken into custody, police said, one of whom had suffered a broken leg. He was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital for the wound, which police said was not sustained in the shooting.”

It seems that there is more to this story than is being reported.

- WHT

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