A day after multiple shootings occurred in the hours after Chicago’s Christmas tree was illuminated, beefed-up police presence was observed in downtown.
Another unofficial kickoff to the holiday season was observed on Saturday night, as the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival Parade stepped off on one of the city’s most iconic stretches of road, just a day after multiple shootings stunned residents and tourists.
Families staked out spots along the Magnificent Mile throughout the day Saturday for one of the largest holiday parades in the country, and hundreds of additional police officers were deployed to keep revelers safe.
As of Saturday evening there were no reports of violence or arrests in downtown, but it was a far different scene Friday after multiple shootings were reported.
A shooting near the Chicago Theatre in the city’s Loop neighborhood Friday evening prompted a heavy police response in the area.
In one shooting just before 10 p.m. in the 100 block of North State Street, at least seven teens were struck by gunfire after a shooting within a large group near the Chicago Theater, according to Chicago police.
A separate shooting in the 100 block of South Dearborn left one person dead and another injured, stunning the community and infuriating Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
“We have too many guns and too many young people who don’t value their own lives or the lives of others,” he said.
Johnson said that police and schools had tracked reports of teen gatherings that were set to occur, and that Friday’s acts of senseless violence do nothing but shake the confidence of nervous residents as the holiday season gets underway.
“(It’s) quite frankly frustrating and quite upsetting when this type of violence takes place because it evokes fear,” he said. “We will continue to make necessary adjustments as we move along to make sure these large peaceful city wide events can take place without terror and harm of gun violence.”
No arrests have been made, and investigations continue into the shootings. Residents will undoubtedly see increased police presence in downtown as the holiday shopping season gets underway.