Woman Critically Injured in Chicago Shooting Left Unattended for Over 20 Minutes
A woman who was shot and critically injured in Chicago was left lying on the ground in pain for more than 20 minutes before first responders were able to locate her early Sunday morning. Shockingly, nobody in the area had called 911 to report the gunshots, highlighting the absence of the city’s ShotSpotter gunfire detection network in the neighborhood.
At approximately 1:40 a.m., an anonymous 911 caller reported hearing a woman calling for help in the 7500 block of South Sangamon. The caller mentioned that they believed the woman was in the alley or possibly near some nearby railroad tracks.
Despite the initial police search not yielding any results, a subsequent 911 call at around 2 a.m. reported hearing a woman screaming that she had been shot in an alley behind the 7500 block of South Sangamon. It was only then that officers and firefighters were able to locate the 33-year-old woman in critical condition in the alley between Sangamon and May, south of 75th Street.
According to a statement released by the Chicago Police Department, a man approached the woman in the alley around 1:36 a.m. and fired shots, leaving her with multiple gunshot wounds.
The incident has reignited the debate around the importance of technologies like ShotSpotter in enhancing public safety. Alderman David Moore, who represents the area where the woman was found, has been vocal in advocating for the reinstatement of ShotSpotter following a similar incident where a 19-year-old woman was shot and killed in his ward just hours after the city’s ShotSpotter service was discontinued.
Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Garien Gatewood dismissed calls for reinstating ShotSpotter as mere “politics,” prompting a strong response from Alderman Moore. Moore challenged the notion that advocating for the technology was driven by political motives, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing community safety.
Aside from the debate surrounding ShotSpotter, recent events have also brought to light issues within the city’s administration. The arrest of a top public safety advisor, Alyxandra Goodwin, on an outstanding traffic warrant has raised concerns about the individuals and policies influencing decisions in the community.
Moore expressed frustration over what he perceives as certain groups using the community as “test dummies” and emphasized the need to protect residents from potentially harmful influences. Goodwin’s past statements referring to police as “the muscle of racial capitalism” and advocating for police abolition have added fuel to the ongoing discussions about public safety and community well-being.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in ensuring the safety and security of all residents in Chicago, prompting calls for proactive measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
