Chicago police officers discovered a tragic scene in Lawndale during a routine patrol, where they found a murder victim lying dead. The victim, who appeared to be a teenager, had been shot in the head in the backyard of a home on the 1500 block of South Kildare. Despite no one calling 911 to report the gunfire, shell casings were found near the victim.
The area where the victim was found had previously been monitored by the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, which was terminated by Mayor Brandon Johnson. If the technology had still been in place, the police would have been alerted to the gunfire and the location where the shots were fired.
The only report of gunfire in the area came hours before the victim was discovered, when a patrol officer heard shots fired to the north of 18th and Kildare. Detectives are now working to piece together what happened leading up to the tragic incident.
Local Alderman Monique Scott, who was a supporter of the ShotSpotter system, expressed her concerns about the termination of the technology. She criticized Mayor Johnson for prioritizing a campaign promise over the safety of the community. After the murder of a 14-year-old boy in her ward, Scott called on the Mayor to reactivate ShotSpotter to address the crisis in the community.
Despite the calls to reinstate ShotSpotter, Mayor Johnson remained steadfast in his decision to terminate the service. This decision has sparked a series of reports called “Brandon’s Bodies,” which aims to highlight cases where gunshot detection technology could have made a difference in police investigations.
As of September 23, 2024, Chicago no longer has access to the ShotSpotter system in its most violence-impacted neighborhoods. The termination of the technology has raised concerns about the safety and effectiveness of law enforcement in addressing gun violence in the city.
If you have any information related to this case or other incidents, you can contact CWBChicago anonymously via email at news@cwbchicago.com. Stay informed and stay safe.
