3-year-old girl shot in apparent retaliation
Wednesday, Jul 1, 2020 - Posted by Rich Miller
* I just have no words for this…
A 3-year-old girl was shot in the chest outside her home in West Englewood Tuesday night when a gunman opened fire into a yard filled with children, apparently in retaliation for a shooting minutes earlier six blocks away that wounded a 15-year-old boy, according to Chicago police.
The shootings continue one of the most violent stretches of gun violence against children in Chicago. Three days earlier, a 20-month-old boy was killed, also in Englewood, and a 10-year-old girl was fatally shot. A week earlier, five children were shot and killed in Chicago, including a 3-year-old boy. […]
Police say the girl was outside her home in the 7000 block of South Damen Avenue around 8 p.m. Tuesday, playing in the yard with other children, when someone fired shots from a car. Relatives said they thought the gunfire was fireworks, but the girl’s mother ran outside and found the girl lying face up with a wound to her chest.
She was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital in critical condition, but was stabilized and upgraded to serious condition overnight, according to community activist Andrew Holmes, who was with the family at the hospital.
* Ugh…
* In other news…
As the number of murders in Chicago soared in June, there was a huge slowdown of police activity that the police union blames on rock-bottom morale and distrust of Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
In the first 28 days in June, the number of murders was up 83% compared with numbers from the same period in 2019, Chicago Police Department statistics show.
And the number of arrests was down 55%, street stops fell by 74% and traffic stops dropped by 86%.
Police Supt. David Brown said Monday that police activity slowed because fewer people have been on the streets “because of COVID.”
But John Catanzara, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said Tuesday it’s more than that.
* Other than murder (the most important category), most crime has been down in the city this year…
- LoyalVirus - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:03 am:
By ‘because of Covid’ does he mean ‘blue flu’?
- Perrid - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:05 am:
Why does the FOP think it’s a winning strategy to explicitly say that cops aren’t doing their jobs because the public’s high expectations for them hurt their feelings?
- Tom Tom - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:14 am:
I would hope that all of the Black Lives Matter protestors would be out in full force this weekend to demand an end to this violence. Aren’t our children worth it ???
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:16 am:
- Tom Tom -
You’ll be marching too… right?
- South Water works - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:17 am:
After hearing about another child shot, Trump was wrong how?? Hard to see how our city streets aren’t as dangerous as Afghanistan.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:19 am:
- protestors would be out in full force this weekend -
Another cop with hurt fee fees heard from.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:20 am:
=== Trump was wrong how?===
Trump’s racist anti-urban rants, including about Chicago are to make old angry white voters feel good about their racism, not about helping violence in cities
… but you already knew that.
- Original Rambler - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:22 am:
You’ve been to Afghanistan?
- 44th - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:25 am:
If only we would leave gun possessing felons in jail…
- South Water works - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:28 am:
Glad to see how you deflect from the main premise Willy. I don’t think the parents of the children shot would agree that the city is safe.
- Tom Tom - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:29 am:
I will be there Willy. Will you ??
- Rich Miller - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:32 am:
===Hard to see how our city streets aren’t as dangerous as Afghanistan===
Stop it.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:32 am:
=== Will you ?===
I can’t. Rich know why. I’d “let it be” on me.
Thanks.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:36 am:
=== I don’t think the parents of the children shot would agree that the city is safe.===
Depends where you live?
Systemic and institutional racism.
Maybe you and - South Water works - can meet up to discuss.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:36 am:
- If only we would leave gun possessing felons in jail -
Incarceration rates are up over 150% since the 1980s, has that reduced violence? You cops almost seem to enjoy pointing out that you make no difference to violent crime rates.
- Amalia - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:39 am:
there’s a post going around that is about rebuttals for racist talking points. several of the points refer to crime and are quite dismissive. they miss the point that you can work on justice AND care about the murder of a 3 year old and want to do something about that. too many murders. actual crimes. actual dead bodies. that’s not a racist talking point.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:40 am:
There is a march tomorrow at 6:30 pm. Call to action Black Lives Matter for Justice, Peace and No Killing. St. Sabina’s 1210 W. 78th Place, Chicago IL 60620. (773)483-4300. Be sure to wear your mask
- Jocko - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:41 am:
==If only we would leave gun possessing felons in jail…==
While their friends/acquaintances intimidate community witnesses or choose to retaliate? Simple solutions are usually neither.
- Unstable Genius - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:42 am:
For anyone who lacks empathy with Chicago police officers, I recommend that you google “heyjack” and listen to the police scanner feed for the Loop /Rivernorth any evening this weekend. You probably can’t handle the channel for Austin or Englewood.
- Can - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:53 am:
== apparently in retaliation for a shooting minutes earlier six blocks away ==
So Tom Tom and Water Works want to schedule a protest this weekend to demand an end to retaliation? Hmm.
See, systemic racism and police brutality are things we can fix. The desire to retaliate for a shooting that wounded a 15-year-old boy? That is a much, much tougher thing to fix.
Why did the shooter of the 3-year-old girl feel the need to retaliate violently? Because they believe in an eye for an eye? Maybe. But why didn’t they feel like they could trust the system to deliver them the justice they desired? Each individual is unique and we may never know why this particular shooter retaliated the way they did. But one thing we do know is that deflecting criticism of cops by bringing up black-on-black crime isn’t helpful… but you already knew that as well.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:57 am:
=== Trump was wrong how?==
I’d like to know why hasn’t the President done anything about this yet? He’s been saying for years that he’s going to fix the crime problem in Chicago, but hasn’t followed through. Where’s the action he promised, the plan that the “super tough Chicago cop” told him about? It’s been four years already. Is it just like his border wall, a lot of bragging but very little as far as actual results? Seems to me like he doesn’t have the juevos to actually back up all these promises. Guy is either incompetent, or he’s weak.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:58 am:
=== who lacks empathy with Chicago police officers===
We can’t have empathy for the people shot AND the police officers?
Who here said the police have NO empathy on this post?
- Muddy trail - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:59 am:
Two silver linings. One is that the poor baby didn’t die and maybe she will survive. Two is that retaliation means they know who did this. I hope this person stays locked up forever and the person who sold him the gun as well.
- South side native - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:09 am:
Sorry Rich. Easy for you to say that being down state. Seems pretty dangerous here.
- Gone too Far - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:12 am:
Stop with the talking point of institutional racism, unless you want to be specific Willy. Racism didn’t get those kids shot.
- California Day - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:16 am:
Funny Willy. Famed Black civil rights attorney Leo Terrell said just yesterday how this whole institutional and systematic racism is a nonsense talking point. Is he wrong as well?
- 17% Solution - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:18 am:
==Racism didn’t get those kids shot.==
I’ll be specific. It’s God’s fault. God gave people free will. Someone used her/his free will to shoot a yard full of kids.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:20 am:
=== Is he wrong as well?===
That’s a world question, but a “me” question.
Keep up.
Tell it to Mississippi after changing its flag… guess they should keep their flag?
You’re not very good at this.
Maybe
- South side native -
- Gone too Far -
- South Water works -
… and - Tom Tom -
Can figure this out… all the whole celebrating institutional and systemic racism.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:23 am:
=== Stop with the talking point of institutional racism, unless you want to be specific===
Insurance red lining
Judicial sentencing
Economic investment in neighborhoods…
Let’s get real clear on racism;
Confederate statues
Mississippi’s old flag
Holidays and military bases for traitors
You know, institutionalizing and celebrating racism
- Earnest - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:25 am:
https://capitolfax.com/2020/06/23/among-the-countrys-ten-largest-cities-chicago-has-the-most-police-officers-per-capita-and-most-murders-per-capita/
I thought back to this recent thread and the comparison of violence to an infectious disease really rings true: one even leads to another. Resources to prevent similar occurrences are better spent elsewhere than on police.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:28 am:
This idea that crime and how we have institutional and systemic racism isn’t a factor in law enforcement and how those mitigating factors fuel much of the segregation and racism and “Trump is right”… when clearly his (Trump’s) position on the Central Park 5 is driven by racism not science or facts… we need to do better without the dog whistle “law and order” to the Trump base.
These tragedies, they sicken me, we can do both, work in the neighborhoods AND end the causes for racism keeping these neighborhoods “down” as well.
- Business man - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:29 am:
Economic investment in neighborhoods. Businesses won’t set up shop now after politicians let the looting get out of control.
Judicial sentencing, seems Trump just took care of sentencing reform
- Business man - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:33 am:
Willy, it was Trump that worked with Sen Scott on enterprise zones and like l said sentencing reform. Where were the Dems? Nowhere, they rather fan the flames so that people don’t realize their policies have done nothing to improve communities.
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:37 am:
- Racism didn’t get those kids shot. -
The illegal drug trade very likely had something to with this violence. The war on drugs that created that trade is, and has been admitted to be, institutional racism. So it’s very likely that your statement is incorrect.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:39 am:
=== Economic investment in neighborhoods. Businesses won’t set up shop now after politicians let the looting get out of control===
… and yet both Target and WalMart said they’re returning.
So there’s that.
=== Judicial sentencing, seems Trump just took care of sentencing reform===
Really? How so?
=== Nowhere, they rather fan the flames so that people don’t realize their policies have done nothing to improve communities.===
How about a national police registry for bad cops and banning choke holds?
No?
Hmm.
Mr. Scott left that out of his bill.
So many singing from the same hymnal.
It’s amazing how many are talking to this here…
If you support Trump, AND the neighborhoods, how can you be against a bad police registry and ending choke holds?
It’s crazy…
- Grandson of Man - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:42 am:
The last thing high-crime areas need are GOP policies of stripping union rights and other policies that permanently tilt the advantage to rich business owners, who would then deign to invest in low-income communities after the residents weaken themselves further.
We don’t need wholesale stripping of regulations, more tax cuts for the wealthy and policies that perpetuate our Third World income disparity. We need a big, bold national investment plan that focuses on education, jobs and social services.
- SSL - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:49 am:
These acts of violence speak to a desperation so great that human life has no value. I haven’t lived what people in these communities are going through, but I’ve seen it enough to know it isn’t going anywhere. Policing can only keep the top on this powderkeg for so long.
Answers are difficult and expensive. Community leadership is critically important. The leaders better put their heads together, stop bickering and dedicate people and funding resources.
- Lot Left - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:55 am:
Willy, Trump signed the First Step Act for sentencing reform. Go read up on it if you’re going to show your lack of knowledge on the subject
- don the legend - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 11:56 am:
I have no possible ability to imagine living in a neighborhood where a car will stop in front of my home and open fire. And further knowing that it could happen multiple times a month.
I can’t fathom a resolution in today’s toxic political environment.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 12:02 pm:
So many different people talking at me…
- Lot Left -
Are you against a bad cop registry AND ending choke holds?
Why or why not?
See, this talk of policing during tragedies like these children being killed… but ignoring systemic and institutional racism will get communities no where when there’s no trust
Trump is a racist, and is race baiting, as Colin Powell describes… a dividing President.
You’d think any act named “First Step” there’d be a second step beyond tweets of “law and order”
- Fly like an eagle - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 12:08 pm:
=== The illegal drug trade very likely had something to with this violence. The war on drugs that created that trade is, and has been admitted to be, institutional racism. So it’s very likely that your statement is incorrect.===
I agree. Make all drugs legal. Use the money saved by not spending it on the war on drugs to help addicts. Fire needs oxygen to burn. Take away the oxygen.
- phenom_Anon - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 12:30 pm:
=So many different people talking at me…=
I think someone loaded up the comment section from Illinois Review and brought it here today.
- dbk - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 1:01 pm:
Re: Rich’s post from last week (linked above), I’ve been thinking all these days about why Chicago, which has the highest per 10.000 pop police concentration, also has the highest per 100.000 murder rate (but one of the worst clearance rates in the country at around 20%).
This seems to me really important to try to answer, viz.
“1) If this problem is unique to Chicago, shouldn’t we find out why?
2) If this problem is not unique to Chicago, shouldn’t we find out why Chicago’s murder rate is so high?”
Each of the country’s major cities has its own unique history of racism - segregation - generational poverty - cycle of violence.
May I just add this link, which reminds us of another unique aspect of Chicago’s PD:
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2020/07/02/legacy-police-torture-chicago/
- Useless Trivia - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 1:15 pm:
South Water Works is behind the times. The facility was renamed for former Chicago mayor Eugene Sawyer. Originally, it was named for former Chicago mayor William Hale Thompson, but his successor, Anton Cermak had his name removed.
- All this - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 1:44 pm:
== Willy, it was Trump that worked with Sen Scott on enterprise zones and like l said sentencing reform. Where were the Dems?==
Durbin coauthored the First Step Act and every Democrat voted for it.
The “opportunity zones” helped rich property owners. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/17/business/trump-opportunity-zone-jobs.html
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 4:16 pm:
A one year old that was hot and killed? What?
- Fighter of Foo - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 4:25 pm:
The idea that trump is racist is the worst myth that has been perpetrated. Lowest black unemployment in history pre covid. First step act. The guy has been a billionaire since his 20’s and they have nothing on the guy than sleeping with models. Jesse and Al loved him before. I hate the way he uses twitter. But, that guy only sees Green. The lack of opportunities and destruction of the family unit over the last 50 years is why the Southside is the way it is. There’s no magic. People need to start looking in the mirror.
- Jocko - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 4:52 pm:
==The idea that trump is racist is the worst myth that has been perpetrated.==
Name one black VP in the Trump organization…ever.
- Oswego Willy - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 4:56 pm:
===The idea that trump is racist is the worst myth that has been perpetrated.===
Explain Trump’s position on the Central Park 5…
… why did Trump face charges of racism in the rental habits of places he owns?
Take your time.
This idea that people ignore Trump’s intent by writing a letter on violence in Chicago, and ignoring the institutional racism in Chicago as a mitigating factor in crime…
… it’s like if you pretend it’s not there…
- Suburban Mom - Wednesday, Jul 1, 20 @ 10:46 pm:
===I would hope that all of the Black Lives Matter protestors would be out in full force this weekend to demand an end to this violence. Aren’t our children worth it===
This is always such a sign that the poster reads zero Black media in Chicago and is involved with no Black communities or organizations. THEY. ARE. OUT. THERE. ALL. THE. TIME. PROTESTING. VIOLENCE. The fact that you’re only interested in Black-on-Black violence when you think you can score points about progressives and/or BLM for “hypocrisy” while having literally no idea that stopping this kind of crime has been a top priority for Black activists in Chicago for YEARS ON END, typically with VERY little assistance from the police or the city, says a heck of a lot more about you, your ignorance, and your willingness to use toddlers’ lives to score political points than it does about the protesters who are out there ALL. THE. TIME. on THIS. EXACT. ISSUE.
Just because YOU only care about Black children’s lives when you can score political points doesn’t mean everybody else thinks like that. Jesus, Mary, and Holy Saint Joseph, do better.
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 7:04 am:
Suburban Mom, well said.
- Anonymous - Thursday, Jul 2, 20 @ 12:00 pm:
if we could all just sit down and have an open and honest discussion… a discussion that doesn’t start with you have to see it my way first, or I will only listen to you if you acknowledge these things, or you have to come to the table with your hat in your hand and acknowledge that I am right first. Or the one I’m seeing the most right now.. you have the right to free speech, and your opinion, but only if it matches mine, otherwise I’m going to attack you with everything I can. How about we stop blaming everyone and everything else and start by taking a good hard look within ourselves? If only we could spend as much time trying to address the actual problem instead of fighting amongst ourselves over who’s fault it is, or defending our positions, or saying I’ll only come to the table if you do this or do that first.