Chicago City Wire

Democrat Paul Vallas took to Twitter to criticize Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago police leadership after three people ages 20 and younger were shot near the Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium. 

According to CWBChicago.com, three men under the age of 20 were shot near the Adler Planetarium and Shedd Aquarium early Saturday. The website reported that several shell casings were found near the Museum Campus and one bullet broke a window at the planetarium. At least 32 people total were shot over the weekend, including 6 who were killed. The violence prompted Vallas to respond on social media. 

“Last night three shot by the Adler Planetarium,” the Democratic candidate for mayor tweeted in the aftermath of the shooting. “The violence has continued downtown due to @chicagosmayor and CPD leadership’s failed strategies. There are no real solutions by CPD leadership or mayor. Chicago’s economic engine can’t take much more.”

That shooting was one of several gun-related incidents, according to NBC Chicago, which reported that at least 32 people were shot over the weekend, with six people losing their lives, including a man, 23, who was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting that left three other people hurt. 

The NBC Chicago report also noted two people were shot and killed by unknown assailants while riding in vehicles, including a 26-year-old man late Friday and a 37-year-old woman early Saturday. 

According to data from the Chicago Police Department (CPD), by June 5, 248 people had been killed in the city, and police were investigating 1,013 shooting incidents, 864 criminal sexual assaults, 3,309 robberies, 2,944 burglaries, 6,940 thefts, 2,289 aggravated batteries and 5,345 motor vehicle thefts. According to CPD, burglaries are up 32% over the same period a year ago, while thefts are up 66% and motor vehicle thefts have increased by 40%.