Six people died and 39 others were shot during a series of incidents in Chicago over the weekend, including a mass drive-by shooting in the Princeton Park neighborhood Friday night.
Chicago police said two suspects opened fire from an SUV on a crowd of people in the Princeton Park area. Multiple victims sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to local hospitals, according to a statement from the Chicago Police Department.
Official Response
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded to the violence in a post on social media. “I am heartbroken by the violence in Princeton Park last night,” Johnson wrote. “What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones.”
Former President Donald Trump commented on the shootings through his social media platform. “Lots of Killing going on in Chicago,” Trump wrote, adding that he could “make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH.”
Washington D.C. Crime Manipulation Scandal
The shooting in Chicago comes as federal investigators have examined crime statistics practices in Washington D.C. At least 13 officials within the Metropolitan Police Department have been terminated or disciplined following an internal investigation into allegations that department leaders manipulated crime statistics.
According to reports, senior police officials allegedly downgraded serious offenses into lesser categories in official reporting systems. The practice reportedly involved multiple districts and layers of department leadership, reducing the number of violent crimes reflected in public data releases.
Second District Commander Tatjana Savoy and former Third District Commander Michael Pulliam were among those issued termination notices. District commanders told investigators they felt pressure from leadership to lower reported crime numbers, according to congressional reports.
Critics argue that such practices distort public understanding of crime trends and affect policy decisions, resource allocations, and public trust in law enforcement. Federal prosecutors have reportedly upgraded certain assault and firearms charges in cases from the department because suspects appeared to have been undercharged by local authorities.
