Chicago Crime Continues Unabated; Man Found Shot Dead, Woman Shot Driving, Man Robbed at Gunpoint

Chicago faces continued crime wave as residents fall victim to shootings, armed robbery

The 6500 block of South Claremont in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood where a man was found shot dead Wed, morningPhoto byScreen Capture/Youtube Video [Creator]

A surge of violence hit Chicago on Wednesday, with police reporting multiple incidents across the city. In the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, a 54-year-old man was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest early in the morning. The victim was discovered on the sidewalk in the 6500 block of South Claremont just after 1 a.m. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. No suspects have been identified, and Area One detectives are investigating the shooting.

Later that same morning, a 26-year-old woman was shot while driving on the city’s South Side. The incident occurred around 6:30 a.m. in the 7200 block of South Damen Avenue, in the Englewood neighborhood. The woman reported to police that an individual in a gray SUV, possibly a Dodge Durango, fired shots, striking her in the armpit and forearm. She was transported to Insight Hospital, where she remains in good condition.

In a separate event on Tuesday morning, a 44-year-old man was robbed at gunpoint in the Near North Side. The victim was getting into his vehicle when a white sedan pulled up behind him. A man exited the vehicle, brandished a firearm, and demanded money. The victim complied before the suspect fled. No arrests have been made, and Area Three detectives are handling the case.

These tragedies are just more examples of the continuing violent crime in Chicago that continues to rise despite large investments in attempts to control it. This alarming increase, raises questions about the effectiveness of recent legal reforms aimed at crime reduction. The city has allocated over $180 million toward violence prevention and youth programs, yet the crime rate still continues to rise, setting off an intense debate about the current state of law enforcement and criminal justice in Chicago.

Newly released data shows that cases of robbery, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery have reached five-year highs. Over the past 12 months, violent crime in the city has increased by 7.2%, indicating that Chicago is not overcoming the challenges the city faces despite city-wide intervention efforts involving large investments of money.

Additionally, the felony arrest rate has fallen to just 12.8%, marking one of the lowest levels in five years, with only one arrest made for every 18 reported violent incidents. This provides encouragement for criminals who have an increasing chance of getting away with their crime and never seeing a day in jail.

Republican state Rep. John Cabello has been a vocal critic of the current legal framework, particularly the SAFE-T Act, which eliminated cash bail for most offenses.

“When criminals know that they're probably not going to be held in jail because of the SAFE-T Act, they're going to be a little bit more brave in what they do,” Cabello said in an interview. He argued that police officers are hesitant to perform their duties, fearing repercussions under the new policies, and emphasized the need for legislative changes. “The arrests are down because the police are too afraid to do their jobs.”

Robbery remains the most frequently reported violent crime in Chicago, accounting for 36% of cases, followed by aggravated assaults and batteries, which together make up 57% of reported incidents. In total, the city reported over 30,000 violent crimes from August 2023 to July 2024.

Cabello warned that unless significant changes are made, Chicago will continue to experience a population decline. “People are going to leave because they're afraid and they want to protect their families. The more people that leave Chicago, the fewer tax dollars the city will have. It’s a never-ending cycle.”

As if to prove this assertion, there was a report of a mother, Samara Harmon, who experienced three cases of violent crime in Chicago, moved her family out of Chicago yesterday, stating, "I love my city, but I’m not about to lose my life to gun violence. I’m a taxpayer, and I deserve better."