At least 12 people were shot late Friday night in Chicago's South Side when an SUV pulled up and two occupants opened fire on a crowd, police said. The incident occurred during Juneteenth celebrations, a holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States.
Shooting Details
According to a Chicago police news release, the SUV fled the scene after the shooting. Two male victims remain in critical condition, one with a gunshot wound to the thigh. In total, eight men and four women aged 17 to 47 were struck by gunfire and transported to four area hospitals. Another man sustained unspecified injuries but refused medical treatment.
Police initially responded to reports of one person shot and discovered a woman with two gunshot wounds to her back and a man with four graze wounds to his back. Both were listed in fair condition. Detectives are investigating, and no further details were immediately available.
Citywide Violence
Since Friday evening, at least 21 people have been shot across Chicago, resulting in four deaths. The mass shooting occurred on Juneteenth, a day of celebration. Earlier Friday, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the first visitors to the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side.
Pastor Donovan Price, a local advocate for gun crime victims, called the shooting a tragedy. “It should be celebrating,” he told CBS News. “Fireworks should not turn into gunshots.”
