Man Fatally Shot in South Shore Neighborhood After ShotSpotter Disconnected
A tragic incident unfolded in the South Shore neighborhood as a 56-year-old man, Alonzo Smith, was shot and killed overnight. However, a delay in police response was noted, as first responders arrived later than they could have due to the disconnection of the ShotSpotter gunfire detection system by Mayor Brandon Johnson in September.
According to police reports, a witness in the 7800 block of South Merrill heard two men arguing, followed by gunshots, at 1:20 a.m. The witness promptly called 911, but no initial report of a shooting victim was received by the police.
It was more than seven minutes later when a police dispatcher updated officers that Smith was found lying unresponsive in front of a home. Tragically, Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, with no information about the shooter released by CPD.
Despite calls from local Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) and the majority of the City Council to maintain the ShotSpotter network, Mayor Johnson chose to discontinue the system, going against the recommendations of his police superintendent and the desires of around 70% of Chicago residents.
Harris, a staunch supporter of ShotSpotter, emphasized its effectiveness in aiding police response to incidents in her ward. She highlighted a recent shooting where police arrived promptly, thanks to the ShotSpotter alert, before any resident had even made a call to report the incident.
Editor’s note: The case previously listed as #13 on this report has been removed as of May 21, 2025, following the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office investigation determining the individual died by suicide from a fall from height.
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