Chicago City Wire

Paul Vallas, a Democratic mayoral candidate, expressed his condolences for the two teens who were killed outside of a Chicago high school and criticized Chicago Public Schools (CPS) for removing police officers from schools.

"Shooting outside Juarez HS leaves 2 dead & brings to 67 youth 17 yrs & younger murdered this year," the candidate Tweeted. "Prayers for our kids who deserve a safe school environment including dismissal. Bad enough CPS allowed high schools to remove police, but shouldn’t police cover dismissals?"

On Dec. 16, a shooting took place outside of Benito Juarez High School as students were being dismissed at the end of the school day, CNN reported. The shooting left two teens dead, a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old boy who were both shot in the head, and two other 15-year-olds were wounded, but in good condition. The shooting took place outside of the school building, but on school grounds.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker tweeted, "Schools are the cornerstone of neighborhoods and students deserve to feel safe. Earlier today, senseless gun violence took the lives of two people outside of Benito Juarez High School and injured two more. My heart goes out to the family and friends of those who lost their lives today and I pray for a full recovery for those injured. MK and I are thinking of the entire Benito Juarez community. We must put an end to these unspeakable tragedies and rid our communities of gun violence."

Benito Juarez students walked out of class the following Monday in a demonstration for the killed and wounded teens, calling for justice and peace and releasing balloons, Block Club Chicago reported. Police have an image of the suspected gunman but have not taken any suspects into custody. This shooting was at least the third this school year to take place outside of a Chicago high school during dismissal. In August, four students were shot outside Schurz High School, and earlier in December, a teen was killed outside of Michele Clark Magnet High School.