At least 57 people have been shot in Chicago since Friday

At least 57 people have been shot with five people dying from their wounds in Chicago over the weekend.

According to the Chicago Tribune the total number of people shot in the city this year recently passed 1,800 with authorities describing it as like a ‘war zone’.

This weekend 18 people were shot on Friday evening, 23 on Saturday, and 21 were shot early Sunday. 

A particularly violent spell between Saturday night and Sunday morning accounted for 18 people shot – one of whom died.

 

Police work the scene where two people were shot near the intersection of North Eldridge Avenue and North Drake Avenue on Sunday

A protracted violent spree from Saturday night until Sunday afternoon saw 18 people shot in total

A protracted violent spree from Saturday night until Sunday afternoon saw 18 people shot in total

A Chicago Police officer investigates a crime scene where a man was shot in the arm on 12 August

A Chicago Police officer investigates a crime scene where a man was shot in the arm on 12 August

While a single shooting Friday injured seven people, including a three-year-old boy in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side.

Three people were shot on Saturday night while attending a back to school ‘peace picnic’ in a playground in Seward Park in the city’s north side. 

Witnesses said the situation turned ugly after a group of ‘intoxicated’ men turned up and started arguing with people at the picnic. 

‘It’s senseless and should have never happened,’ event organizer Raymond Hatcher said.

‘We were doing well. Everything was going swell and then a group of guys who were not associated with us, came to the event intoxicated.’ 

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (pictured) has been branded 'corrupt' and 'part of the problem in Chicago' over the murder crisis

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (pictured) has been branded ‘corrupt’ and ‘part of the problem in Chicago’ over the murder crisis

Detectives investigate a shooting where multiple people were shot on August 5 in a weekend which saw 30 people shot in a single 24 hour period

Detectives investigate a shooting where multiple people were shot on August 5 in a weekend which saw 30 people shot in a single 24 hour period

Earlier this month, the city saw 12 people shot dead and 59 injured over the first weekend of August as President Donald Trump blamed mayor Rahm Emanuel’s lack of leadership for the crisis.

‘We must strengthen community bonds with law enforcement, including cities like Chicago that have been an absolute and total disaster,’ he said.

‘That’s bad stuff happening. And probably, I guess, you have to take it from the leadership, it’s called bad leadership.’ 

Despite its reputation, Chicago doesn’t have the highest murder rate in the US which is in St. Louis at 64.9 people per 100,000. 

Atlanta, Washington, Oakland, Memphis and Kansas City all have higher violent crime rates. But Chicago’s total number of killings has been higher than both Los Angeles and New York.

Chicago Police officers attend an outdoor roll call in the North Lawndale neighborhood after a shootout on August 11

Chicago Police officers attend an outdoor roll call in the North Lawndale neighborhood after a shootout on August 11

Police officers cordon off an area outside the city's Mount Sinai hospital after a shooting on the steps of the medical facility on August 10

Police officers cordon off an area outside the city’s Mount Sinai hospital after a shooting on the steps of the medical facility on August 10

Extra police are being deployed to Chicago after 12 people were killed and dozens more injured. Pictured: Two women cry outside the Stroger Hospital in Chicago on Sunday

Extra police are being deployed to Chicago after 12 people were killed and dozens more injured. Pictured: Two women cry outside the Stroger Hospital in Chicago on Sunday

A Chicago Police officer works at a crime scene after a man was shot in the back on South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 12 August 2018

A Chicago Police officer works at a crime scene after a man was shot in the back on South Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, USA, 12 August 2018



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