The weekend of September 20 was a little more violent than usual in Chicago, with 33 people struck by gunfire. Three died from their wounds.
Starting on Friday afternoon, the weekend death toll began with the death of 19-year-old Markise Darlin, who was shot multiple times outside his home in the city’s West Englewood neighborhood.
About a half dozen others were shot Friday evening.
Saturday morning the second fatality occurred when 16-year-old Cortez Rivers was pronounced dead at Loretto Hospital. Police say the West Garfield Park resident pleaded with them not to let him die.
With Chicago’s death toll growing daily, some are beginning to warn tourists that Chicago is not safe for them, even though most of the city’s violence is in its gang-infested neighborhoods as opposed to its downtown shopping districts.
A recent article on the website of Global Travel Industry News warns that tourists have been increasingly targeted in random violence sparked by “hate,” even on Chicago’s famed “Magnificent Mile” of Michigan Avenue.
“Tourists have been randomly and violently attacked by gangs of juveniles from other parts of Chicago. The attacks were not so much about money, as they were about hate,” the website posted on September 21.
“Almost unlimited resources have been put into cleaning up the downtown area for tourism and business, while other regions in Chicago have been written off,” the warning continues. “Violence along with frustration is growing and making this city unsafe to live in and maybe soon unsafe to visit as well. Downtown is highly protected by a massive police force on horses, but it is in no way bulletproof.”
Thus far in September, 32 Chicago residents have been murdered, with additional 122 wounded. Murders in Chicago have reached 321 year to date, with 1,603 wounded.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter: @warnerthuston. Email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.