Chicago experienced a dramatic shift in violence over the weekend, with a surprising two-day period of no shootings followed by a tragic surge of seven murders on Sunday, as reported by police records.
According to the independent crime tracking site HeyJackass, there was an unprecedented period from early Friday morning until Sunday morning where no shootings occurred in the city. This peaceful respite was short-lived, as by Sunday night, seven individuals had lost their lives to gun violence in various incidents across Chicago. This marked the highest single-day homicide total since July 4, 2024, and only four days in January have seen as many homicides since 1991.
Three of the victims from Sunday’s violence were discovered after a significant delay, as no specific reports of gunfire were made to aid in their rescue. These incidents occurred in areas previously covered by the city’s ShotSpotter gunfire detection system, which was disconnected by Mayor Brandon Johnson.
In response to these tragic events, Cook County Crime Stoppers announced rewards of up to $10,000 for information leading to the resolution of two of the homicides from Sunday. The first reward is for the case of Kiara Jenkins, a 36-year-old mother of five, who was fatally shot as she left her home to attend an early morning church service. Despite a 911 call reporting gunfire in the vicinity of the 6400 block of South Drexel Avenue, Jenkins’ body remained undiscovered for nearly 10 hours.
The second reward is related to the killing of Troy Hollingsworth, 37, the brother of Adam Hollingsworth, known as the “Census Cowboy” and “Dreadhead Cowboy” during the COVID era. Troy Hollingsworth was shot while sitting in his vehicle in the 100 block of East 118th Place on Sunday evening.
Cook County Crime Stoppers emphasized the importance of even small details in these investigations and urged the public to come forward with any information that could assist in bringing justice to the victims’ families and making the neighborhoods safer. Those with information are encouraged to contact Cook County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-535-STOP or submit tips online at CPDTIP.com.
This original reporting, made possible by the support of our readers, aims to shed light on these tragic incidents and help bring closure to those affected by the violence in Chicago.
