CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) -
It was another hot and violent weekend in Chicago. Shootings left seven people dead and 35 injured. The violence continued through Monday night, when Chicago Police shot a person allegedly carrying a gun on the South Side.
Paramedics took one trauma patient to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of
Cook County and another person to University of Chicago Hospital in fair
condition with an unidentified injury, Fire Media Affairs spokesman
Kevin MacGregor said.
This is despite the additional police officers working the streets as part of a summer initiative aimed at curbing violence.
Melissa Murry knows first hand about the violence. Her daughter, 25 year-old Tiffany Edwards was shot and killed this weekend as she and some friends left this gas station at 76th and State Streets early Sunday morning.
Children should have to bury their parents, parents should never have to bury their children so I mean this is a first for me," Murry said.
Three miles away and a few hours earlier, someone ran down the block and fired shots near 70th Place and Damen Ave. 6 year-old Shakaki Asphy was on the porch with a friend. She was killed by one of the bullets, her friend, in a wheelchair from a previous shooting, was wounded.
"She didn't deserve this," neighbor Della Resse Cunningham said. "Wrong place at the wrong time. My heart goes out to her and her family because I know its got to be tough on them; my boy has been hit four times on this block."
On Monday night, there was another shooting, at 66th and State Streets. This time, a 27 year-old woman was critical wounded. Tiffany Edwards' father says Chicago needs more police.
"There are no safe havens, no safe havens on the streets of Chicago at all''," John Murry said.
Fortunately in the West Pullman neighborhood, families have found a safe place to go: the newly opened Ray and Joan Kroc Salvation Army Community Center.
Richard Thomas lives in Beverly and brings his nine year-old son to the center for day camp.
"This is a God-send. This kind of facility has everything and gets the kids off the street," Thomas said.
The day camp has enough room for 500 kids to attend. The center also has other activities for children and teens, including swimming lessons.
Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
