Violence Spikes During Holiday Despite Overall Crime Decline in City
Chicago experienced another deadly Labor Day weekend as gun violence claimed eight lives and left 50 people wounded across 37 separate shooting incidents between Friday evening and Monday night, according to Chicago Police Department data released Tuesday.
The weekend’s toll represents a slight increase from Labor Day 2024, when seven people died (six from gunfire) and more than 20 were wounded in shooting incidents across the city.
Weekend Timeline of Major Incidents
Saturday Night Mass Shooting
The most significant incident occurred late Saturday along South State Street, where seven people were struck when gunfire erupted from a passing vehicle into a crowd. All victims – two women and five men – survived and were reported in good condition.
Early Sunday Violence
Around 1 a.m. Sunday, another drive-by shooting wounded four people on West Haddon Avenue. Preliminary investigations suggest occupants of two vehicles opened fire on a group standing outside. All victims, including one man and three women, were hospitalized in good condition.
Monday Morning Chaos
Early Monday, officers responding to reports of a large disturbance discovered five shooting victims on South Cottage Grove Avenue, approximately one mile from Saturday’s incident. A 17-year-old remains in critical condition, while four adult victims are listed in good or fair condition. Police recovered four firearms at the scene and are questioning a person of interest.
Federal Intervention Looms
The weekend violence unfolds against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Chicago city leadership and the Trump administration over federal intervention plans.
President Trump recently deployed National Guard troops to Washington D.C. and Los Angeles for crime enforcement operations. On Saturday, Trump issued a warning to Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker via social media, demanding he address Chicago’s crime issues quickly “or we’re coming.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed Sunday that federal agents will maintain an expanded presence in Chicago, particularly for immigration enforcement operations.
City Officials Push Back
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson responded by signing an executive order Saturday directing all city departments to “protect Chicagoans and not collaborate with federal overreach.” Johnson characterized the federal approach as actions from “an erratic and impulsive administration.”
Both Johnson and Governor Pritzker, both Democrats, have indicated they plan to pursue legal challenges if federal intervention proceeds.
The Bigger Picture on Chicago Crime
Despite this weekend’s violence, Chicago has actually seen significant crime reductions year-over-year. Police statistics show notable decreases in both homicides and shootings:
2024 vs. 2025 Comparison (January 1 – September 1):
Homicides: 404 (2024) vs. 279 (2025) – 31% decrease
Shootings: 1,586 (2024) vs. 1,026 (2025) – 35% decrease
However, gun violence remains concentrated in specific neighborhoods, creating stark disparities across the city of 2.75 million residents. University of Chicago Crime Lab research reveals that some neighborhoods experience homicide rates 68 times higher than others.
Chicago still recorded the highest number of homicides among U.S. cities in 2024 with 573 deaths, according to Rochester Institute of Technology data.
Ongoing Challenges
The Labor Day weekend violence highlights persistent issues that plague Chicago during summer holiday periods. West and south side neighborhoods continue experiencing concentrated gun violence, despite increased police presence and community intervention efforts during high-risk weekends.
Most of this weekend’s shooting cases remain unsolved, with police reporting that suspects are in custody for only a handful of incidents. This pattern reflects broader challenges in Chicago’s clearance rates for violent crimes.
Community Response
Local community organizations that work to prevent gun violence typically increase their street presence during summer holiday weekends, recognizing the historical pattern of increased violence during these periods.
The cycle of holiday weekend violence has become an unfortunate Chicago tradition, with residents in affected neighborhoods often staying indoors during peak risk hours.
This story reflects ongoing tensions between local and federal authorities over crime intervention strategies while highlighting both progress and persistent challenges in addressing Chicago’s gun violence crisis.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/sep/02/chicago-labor-day-shootings
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