BRIDGEPORT — Ald. Patrick Daley Thompson (11th) is concerned about a recent string of violence in the neighborhood that left three people dead and two others brutally stabbed.
“This is a moment for our community to come together and demand a halt to the violence," Thompson said in a statement. "We can’t just ignore it. We’ve got to turn to one another, as neighbors and as parents, to make this neighborhood safe for all our residents.”
Thompson, who was elected earlier this year, has been keeping a close watch on the violence that has shaken up the ward.
The bloodshed began around 11:30 p.m. May 21, when two men, ages 22 and 19, were found shot in an alley in the 1300 block of West 31st Place. Both men landed at Stroger Hospital. The 22-year-old, who was shot in the head, later died.
Then, around 3:30 a.m. on May 30, a 30-year-old woman and her 26-year-old brother were stabbed multiple times during a tussle at Canaryville's Taylor-Lauridsen Park.
The next shooting happened around 2:15 a.m. on June 6, killing a 17-year-old boy and wounding an 18-year-old man as they were driving away from a party near 35th and Halsted streets.
On June 10, a 17-year-old Bridgeport native named Jeremy Salinas was shot in the chest around 8:30 p.m. while standing with a group of friends near the 900 block of West 32nd Place.
The Chicago Police Department is investigating all the incidents and has already made arrests in the May 30 stabbing and May 21 killing.
Thompson said his office was working closely with local officers from the Deering District to track progress of the cases, and he applauded active CAPS members who regularly speak with beat officers.
He encouraged other residents to "step up" to help make this summer a safe one in the neighborhood.
"The future of our young people, our families and our neighborhood is at stake," Thompson said. "I ask all of our residents to step up your efforts: Know where your children are, report suspicious activity or fights in your area before they escalate. Let’s make the effort to get to know our neighbors and work together to make every block safer and more united.”
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