Chicago City Wire

After a drive-by shooting outside the United Center left five teenagers injured, retired former Riverside police chief Thomas Weitzel raised concerns over inadequate media coverage, drawing parallels to a previous incident at a White Sox game.

Weitzel criticized what he perceived as attempts to downplay the severity of the situation due to the high-profile nature of the venues involved.

“5 people were shot outside the United Center last night after a concert. Poor media coverage. Why? Because it’s the United Center – just like the White Sox tried to cover up the shooting inside the park – which was a fiasco,” Weitzel said on X.

Five teenagers were injured in a drive-by shooting outside the United Center on the city's Near West Side.

The shooting occurred following a concert featuring Rod Wave and Ari Lennox, with victims walking near the 2000 block of West Monroe Street when shots were fired from a passing vehicle around 12:15 a.m.

The victims, including a 15-year-old boy at Lurie Children's Hospital and two 18-year-olds and two 16-year-olds at Stroger Hospital, are reported to be in good condition.

The Chicago Police Department is investigating, and as of now, no arrests have been made.

Weitzel's comments come in the wake of an August 25 incident at a White Sox game where Interim Chicago Police Superintendent Fred Waller publicly accepted responsibility for allowing the game to continue after two women were shot in the stands.

The incident led to heightened scrutiny over communication protocols, and Waller acknowledged a "miscommunication" with the team, stating that White Sox officials contacted Major League Baseball leaders instead of stopping the game.

These incidents contribute to a broader context of gun violence in Chicago.

As of early November, the city has recorded 2,110 shootings and 522 homicides.

The Chicago Police Department reports a significant increase in firearm recoveries, including over 1,000 assault-style weapons, representing an 18% increase over the previous year.

Additionally, CPD data shows a substantial rise in robberies with a 25% increase and motor vehicle thefts, up 59% year-to-date, compared to recent years, indicating a multifaceted challenge for law enforcement.