July 7, 2025 — Chicago experienced a wave of gun violence over the Fourth of July weekend, with at least 52 people shot, six fatally, according to Chicago police reports. The shootings, spanning from Thursday, July 3, at midnight to Sunday, July 6, at 11:59 p.m., included two mass shootings that underscored the city’s ongoing struggle with violent crime, despite a broader decline in homicides earlier this year.
The violence began with a mass shooting in the Back of the Yards neighborhood on Friday night, where seven people were injured in the 4800 block of South Justine Street. Two gunmen opened fire on a crowd, leaving victims aged 15 to 40 in serious to critical condition. In another incident, a drive-by shooting in the River North neighborhood on Wednesday night, just before the holiday weekend tally, killed four and wounded 14 outside Artis Restaurant and Lounge during an album release party for rapper Mello Buckzz. Victims included Leon Andrew Henry, 25; Devonte Terrell Williamson, 23; Taylor Walker, 26; and Aviance King, 27.
Among the weekend’s fatalities was a 36-year-old man, Marco A. Velasquez-Sierra, found shot in the head in West Englewood on Friday night. A 46-year-old man was killed in Cabrini-Green on Saturday morning, and a 21-year-old man died in a drive-by shooting in Jeffery Manor. The victims ranged in age from 16 to 52, highlighting the broad impact of the violence across communities.
Mayor Brandon Johnson expressed grief, stating, “We are devastated by the recent violence that has left our city in a state of grief.” He called for federal resources to address illegal guns and emphasized community engagement to curb the violence. Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling noted that large gatherings, often fueled by alcohol and petty disputes, contribute to such incidents, describing the issue as societal rather than solely a policing problem.
Despite the holiday weekend’s toll, Chicago has seen a historic drop in violent crime in 2025, with homicides down to fewer than 200 in the first six months—the lowest in over a decade. However, the Fourth of July weekend, historically one of the city’s most violent, tested the city’s anti-violence strategies. Community leaders like Tio Hardiman of Violence Interrupters described the shootings as part of a “blitz” style of retaliatory violence, urging continued community-based prevention efforts.
The city responded with increased police presence, extended hours for street outreach workers, and a community rally in Greater Grand Crossing. An emergency support event is planned for July 8 at Fosco Park to provide crisis counseling and resources. As Chicago braces for the Democratic National Convention next month, officials are balancing neighborhood safety with preparations for potential unrest.
The weekend’s violence serves as a stark reminder of the persistent challenges in addressing gun violence, particularly in historically disinvested communities. Residents and leaders alike are calling for long-term solutions to tackle systemic issues like poverty and lack of social services, which fuel the cycle of violence.
Sources: