On Sunday, three shooting victims in Chicago tragically lay undiscovered for extended periods after being struck by gunfire without any accurate 911 calls being made. All three victims were shot on streets previously monitored by the city’s ShotSpotter gunfire detection network before Mayor Brandon Johnson deactivated the system in September 2023. Sadly, all three victims lost their lives.
The delayed discoveries shed light on the concerning issue of shooting victims going undetected due to a lack of 911 calls. According to HeyJackass.com, a website that independently tracks Chicago crime data, 18.5% of people shot in Chicago last year died. However, among victims who received delayed first responder responses due to a lack of 911 calls, the fatality rate is nearly three times higher at 53%.
One of the most heartbreaking cases occurred when a 36-year-old woman’s body went undiscovered for almost 10 hours after she was shot in the 6400 block of South Drexel Avenue. A 911 caller reported hearing five shots in the area around 5 a.m., but no further information was provided. Nearly 10 hours later, at 2:44 p.m., the victim’s friend found her lifeless body near the alley. Kiara Jenkins, 36, was pronounced dead at the scene after sustaining gunshot wounds to the abdomen and legs.
In another tragic incident later that day, around 6:49 p.m., a passerby discovered 19-year-old Angel Aviles slumped over the wheel of a crashed white Honda in the 5800 block of West Walton Street. Responders found that Aviles had been shot in the head and leg and was pronounced dead at Mt. Sinai Hospital.
Finally, at around 9:17 p.m., police responded to a call of an auto accident in the 100 block of East 118th Place. Unfortunately, the 37-year-old driver had suffered fatal gunshot wounds throughout his body and was pronounced dead at the scene.
These devastating incidents highlight the importance of timely responses to gunshot victims and the role that technology like ShotSpotter can play in saving lives. However, Mayor Brandon Johnson’s decision to deactivate the system has faced criticism from aldermen, residents, victims’ advocates, and even his own police superintendent.
Despite the outcry to preserve ShotSpotter, Mayor Johnson stood by his decision to dismantle the system, leaving many neighborhoods without this crucial tool in the fight against gun violence. The consequences of this move are evident in the tragic cases of the three shooting victims who went undiscovered for hours, underscoring the need for effective solutions to address gun violence in Chicago.
