18-Year-Old Man Found Critically Wounded in Burnside Alley Claims Kidnapping and Shooting
An 18-year-old man was discovered critically wounded in a Burnside alley on Friday afternoon. He claimed that he had been kidnapped, taken to the scene, and shot. However, the delay in his discovery was attributed to the lack of 911 calls reporting gunfire and the removal of the area’s gunshot detection system by Mayor Brandon Johnson in September.
Chicago police received a call about a “person down” behind the 9000 block of South University Avenue at approximately 3:44 p.m. Upon arrival, they found the man with a gunshot wound to his left thigh. He was rushed to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition.
Initial reports indicated that the victim informed those who found him that he was forced into a black Dodge Charger, driven to the alley, and shot. Police officers found blood spatter in a nearby gangway, supporting his account.
Surprisingly, no reports of gunfire were made to 911. The ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, which used to cover the area, was dismantled following Mayor Johnson’s directive last year.
The incident took place in Ald. Michelle Harris’s 8th Ward. Despite her usual alignment with the mayor, Harris, along with most City Council members, advocated for the retention of ShotSpotter.
“Recently, I had a shooting in my ward. The police responded within minutes because of ShotSpotter,” Harris stated in September, emphasizing the system’s effectiveness when no 911 calls were made. “All my police commanders support it.”
In addition to a majority of aldermen, CPD Supt. Larry Snelling, and 70% of Chicago residents, supported the continuation of ShotSpotter.
The End of ShotSpotter in Chicago
As of September 23, 2024, Chicago ceased its utilization of ShotSpotter, a technology deployed in 12 of the city’s most violence-affected neighborhoods. The system could pinpoint suspected gunfire locations to specific addresses, alleys, sidewalks, or building sides.
Despite appeals from a majority of aldermen, residents, victims’ advocates, and even the police superintendent, Mayor Brandon Johnson stood firm in his decision to dismantle ShotSpotter.
CWBChicago keeps track of instances where individuals have been found shot in areas previously covered by ShotSpotter. These cases highlight situations where the system, if still operational, could have facilitated a quicker and more accurate response, especially in scenarios where no 911 calls were made or provided vague information about the shooting location.
Editor’s note: Case #13 was removed from this list on May 21, 2025, following the Cook County Medical Examiner’s determination that the individual died by suicide from a fall.
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