At least 40 Shot in Chicago Violence over the Weekend

At least 40 people were shot in a spate of violence across Chicago over the weekend, police said on Monday.

An one-year-old girl was among the victims. She was standing outside with her father and four other men shortly after Midnight when a lone male sprayed gunfire in their direction.

The girl was taken to the University of Illinois Medical Center, where she was treated for a graze wound to the ear and released.

In one of the latest-reported shootings, a 28-year-old man was found slumped on a sidewalk with multiple gunshot wounds to the back. He was pronounced dead at the hospital. No arrests have been made.

Police Superintendent Jody Weis told reporters that the shootings were tied to gang violence.

It was the second time in recent months that he linked scores of shootings to gangs. In May, he said at least half of 22 shootings were gang-related.

At the time, Weis said the Chicago police department had launched several initiatives to tackle the problem, including shortening the intelligence gathering cycle to 24 hours, and strategically deploying officers to key gang locations.

But action has been slow to take root and several lawmakers and community leaders have called on elected officials to ask the National Guard to Patrol the streets to stem the violence.

But Governor Pat Quinn, Weis and other officials have shunned the idea.

Now, given this weekend’s bloodshed, there may be a new call for action and the National Guard.

via At least 40 Shot in Chicago Violences over the Weekend.

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