Gunshot victim flags down passerby for help in neighborhood previously served by ShotSpotter

Woman Found Shot in Back of the Yards

A woman, approximately 38 years old, was discovered shot in the Back of the Yards neighborhood late on Friday night, as reported by Chicago police. The victim managed to flag down a passerby in the 2100 block of West 47th Street, who then called 911 on her behalf around 11:50 p.m.

No reports of shots fired in the area had been received by CPD, as the location was previously covered by the city’s ShotSpotter network until Mayor Brandon Johnson terminated the city’s contract with the company on September 23.

Police officers quickly responded by applying a tourniquet to the victim’s arm, which helped reduce her blood loss until emergency medical services arrived. The woman was later reported to be in stable condition at Mt. Sinai Hospital.

Ald. Julia Ramirez, representing the neighborhood where the incident occurred, was part of the minority of City Council members who supported Mayor Johnson’s decision to end the ShotSpotter service. Despite this, Ramirez maintained a low profile on the issue, offering minimal public statements about the technology.

The only mention of ShotSpotter on Ramirez’s social media was in November 2023, following a tragic incident where three men were found shot dead in the 3100 block of West 39th Place after a ShotSpotter alert.

About this Series

As of 12:01 a.m. on September 23, 2024, Chicago terminated its relationship with ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection system deployed in 12 of the city’s most violence-impacted neighborhoods.

Mayor Brandon Johnson stubbornly refused to reconsider his decision to dismantle ShotSpotter, despite opposition from aldermen, citizens, victim’s advocates, and law enforcement officials. This reporting series, titled “Brandon’s Bodies,” aims to highlight cases of shooting victims and police investigations that could have benefited from gunshot detection technology.

The criteria for inclusion in this series are instances where a gunshot victim is found outdoors in a location previously covered by ShotSpotter, with either no 911 calls about gunfire or delayed response to calls about gunfire in the vicinity.