Firefighters responding to blaze discover woman shot on West Side block that used to be served by ShotSpotter

Incident Details

On a Friday evening, a Chicago Fire Department truck crew, en route to a major fire in Little Village, halted their response upon discovering a woman who had been shot in the 3400 block of West Van Buren.

The firefighters had heard gunfire in the vicinity, although no 911 calls had been made regarding the shooting prior to the woman being found. It was noted that the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, which had been discontinued by Mayor Brandon Johnson, could have aided in pinpointing the exact location of the shots.

The victim, a 30-year-old woman, was walking when shots were fired from a passing vehicle at around 9:19 p.m. The fire department crew came across the injured woman and called for an ambulance at 9:31 p.m. She was in critical condition with a gunshot wound to her abdomen, as confirmed by the Chicago Police Department.

Despite an investigation, no shell casings were found at the scene. The absence of ShotSpotter technology made it challenging for law enforcement to gather crucial evidence such as shell casings.

ShotSpotter Controversy

Before the termination of the city’s contract with ShotSpotter, 33 aldermen had voted to allow the police superintendent to engage in an agreement with the company, bypassing Mayor Johnson’s decision. This move may result in a legal battle if pro-ShotSpotter aldermen pursue enforcement through the courts.

However, Alderman Jason Ervin, representing the area where the shooting victim was found, was among the 14 aldermen who opposed the last-minute measure. He argued that ShotSpotter had negative effects on citizen participation in community safety meetings and emergency response.

Advocates of ShotSpotter maintain that in high-crime areas where gun violence is prevalent, residents may not always report gunfire incidents to 911. The technology served as a crucial tool in filling this reporting gap.

About “Brandon’s Bodies” Series

“Brandon’s Bodies” is a reporting series initiated following the termination of Chicago’s relationship with ShotSpotter. The series aims to document cases of shooting victims and police investigations that could have benefited from gunshot detection technology.

The criteria for inclusion in this series are cases involving (1) gunshot victims, (2) outdoor incidents, and (3) absence of accompanying 911 reports on gunfire.

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