Chicago witnessed a bloody Labor Day weekend as at least 54 people were shot, seven fatally, in incidents across the city, police confirmed on Monday.
The violence came amid renewed threats by former U.S. President Donald Trump to deploy federal agents and National Guard troops to Chicago—an idea strongly opposed by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Trump, in a social media post on Saturday, warned that Pritzker should “straighten it out, FAST, or we’re coming!” In response, Pritzker described the move as “illegal, unconstitutional, and un-American,” while Johnson signed an executive order titled the Protecting Chicago Initiative to resist what he called “militarized activity” by the federal government.
Between Friday night and Monday noon, police recorded at least 32 separate shootings. Victims included a 17-year-old girl struck by a bullet inside her home, a man caught in crossfire, and several others wounded while driving.
Just hours after Trump’s remarks, seven people were injured in a mass drive-by shooting in Bronzeville. Other fatal incidents occurred in South Shore, East Garfield Park, Altgeld Gardens, Pilsen, West Inglewood, Pullman, and Little Village, with victims ranging from 26 to 48 years old.
Despite the violent weekend, Chicago officials noted that shootings and homicides have declined in 2025 compared to last year, with overall violent crime reported to be down more than 22%.
Leave a Reply