While the Chicago Tribune says the dead and wounded toll is lower than last year’s Fourth of July, this year’s shootings were more intense, with one stretch of gun violence lasting eight hours.
One of those killed was little 7-year-old Amari Brown, shot in the chest as he watched fireworks near his father’s home in Humboldt Park late Saturday night. Police suspect the boy’s father was the real target in the shooting. He is being described by police as a “ranking gang member.”
Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy spoke at a news conference Sunday afternoon. “Seven-year-old Amari Brown was the unintended victim of a bullet that was meant for his father, McCarthy said, referring to 29-year-old Antonio Brown. “His father is a ranking gang member with 45 previous arrests who is not cooperating with this investigation. He has had numerous and frequent encounters with the police.”
Amari and a 26-year-old woman were shot in the 1100 block of North Harding just before midnight on Saturday. The woman was also shot in the chest and was taken to Stroger Hospital where her condition has stabilized.
The shooting spree began late Thursday night last week and continued into the early hours of Monday morning. The most intense rounds of gunfire took place Saturday night into early Sunday morning. Gunfire intermingled with fireworks, with at least half of the casualties occurring during an eight-hour stretch that started on Saturday night.