Over the past weekend, Chicago saw a tragic increase in gun violence, with five individuals losing their lives and 23 others sustaining gunshot wounds. This marked a 100% surge compared to the same weekend last year, as reported by HeyJackass, a website that tracks violence in Chicago using official and open-source data.
The spike in violence was primarily fueled by the chaos that ensued in the Loop on Friday night following the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. During this incident, seven juveniles were shot near the Chicago Theatre on State Street. Tragically, a 14-year-old boy named Armani Floyd lost his life in another shooting on South Dearborn Street. An 18-year-old man was also injured in the same incident. Cook County Crime Stoppers has offered a $10,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest of the perpetrators in either case.
In addition to these incidents, a homeless man was found stabbed to death outside a restaurant in the Loop on Sunday morning, adding to the weekend’s tragic toll.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the weekend’s violent incidents, as reported by the Chicago Police Department:
Friday, November 21, 2025:
– A 22-year-old man was fatally shot in the chest in the 600 block of West Division Street.
– A 40-year-old man was shot while entering a vehicle on the 5900 block of West Madison Street.
– Two men, aged 20, were shot in separate incidents on the 1700 block of West 18th Street.
– Seven juveniles were shot near a large crowd on the 100 block of North State Street.
– A 14-year-old boy was fatally shot on the 100 block of South Dearborn Street.
– A 25-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were shot in a separate incident on the 0 to 100 block of West 111th Street.
Saturday, November 22, 2025:
– Multiple shootings occurred across different locations, resulting in injuries to several individuals.
Sunday, November 23, 2025:
– Several more shootings took place, with victims sustaining various injuries.
Monday, November 24, 2025:
– A 30-year-old man walked into Saint Anthony Hospital with a gunshot wound to the foot, reporting a shooting incident on the 3300 block of West 25th Street.
It is important to note that the HeyJackass data includes shootings on expressways within city limits, which are investigated by the Illinois State Police. The definition of a “weekend” may vary between the site and the Chicago Police Department, leading to slight variations in reported totals as incidents are investigated further.
The recent surge in gun violence underscores the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the root causes of crime and ensure the safety of Chicago residents.
