May 20

May 20 A Shooting's Aftermath

Chicago, Chicago Tourism, CTA, Street, Crime

“A man who cannot choose ceases to be a man”

— Anthony Burgess, A Clockwork Orange (1962)

Last night at about 10:40 PM, the intersection at State and Chicago became the most dangerous corner in Chicago, when a gunman began firing into a group of people outside the McDonald’s. When the incident was over, two people were dead and seven others were wounded. A woman ended up being electrocuted on the ‘L’ tracks below ground, but fortunately she did not perish. Not known is whether she was part of the incident or just seeking cover from gunfire.

Today, that same intersection was the safest one in Chicago. Four or five police cars were parked on the street, with police officers out in force. If the police don’t protect the passersby from more violence, at least this time the professionals would capture the carnage. I counted 11 or 12 news trucks and seven or eight crews preparing their packages for the 5:00 PM and 6:00 PM newscasts. Stand-up reports were being filmed on each of the intersection’s four corners, three in front of the McDonald’s, and one across the street.

It wasn’t an exciting afternoon, but the visuals made one thing clear: Last night’s incident might be a turning point. People are transfixed by what transpired, as evidenced by the media overkill. Did ABC News 7 really need four or five trucks to cover this story? WGN was also out in force, with two or three trucks parked on the street.

The saturation coverage, however, is easily explainable: The site of the shooting is 2.5 blocks from the Magnificent Mile and the landmark Water Tower that survived the Great Chicago Fire; 3.5 to 4 blocks from the Museum of Contemporary Art; and within minutes of some of the City’s highest priced hotels. It also happens to be across the street from an elementary school, three-quarters of a block from Holy Name Cathedral, the seat of the Archdiocese of Chicago, and kitty-corner from One Chicago, a luxury 76-story apartment and condo complex completed in 2021. A new Whole Foods sits on the ground floor, and the complex houses a swanky health club.

While in Washington, D.C. last weekend for the abortion-rights rally and awaiting a table at the Hyatt for breakfast, I spoke with one Chicago police officer who was in town for a commemoration of officers killed in the line of duty. (Over the course of the weekend, I saw hundreds if not thousands of police officers from around the country. The event was so large that President Joe Biden addressed the group during a ceremony on the westside of the Capitol.) The officer was clearly in the CPD’s upper echelon. I asked him whether he had heard about the fatal shooting of a teenager in Millennium Park the night before. He hadn’t, but as we talked, he said this summer would be an extremely violent one. He knows it, and everyone who lives in Chicago knows and fears it.

Last night aptly demonstrates what is in store for the City as the temperatures rise and the clouds dissipate, which explains the saturation television coverage. Mayor Lightfoot seems to understand the public relations problem she faces. After last weekend’s shooting in Millennium Park, she condemned the violence, but she backpedaled a bit when it came to condemning gatherings of the teens who act out as they swarm Millennium Park and the surrounding streets, sometimes jumping on cars and stealing from retail establishments. There was also an unfortunate incident at North Avenue Beach earlier that week, with unruly teens spilling into the intersection at North Avenue and LaSalle.

Today was different. Lightfoot was out with a statement early this morning, in which she said:

First, I have asked Superintendent Brown to install a fixed post of uniformed officers at the intersection of State and Chicago and a separate fixed post in the Red Line station in the same area.

Second, I have also engaged the Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to determine what if any additional measures need to be taken to address long-standing concerns along that block. That work has already begun.

Lastly, I have asked the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and CTA to continue to work together to have our CPD Public Transportation Section with visible patrols of stations, platforms, and trains 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Most importantly, it is simply awful, and unacceptable that once again, another tragedy occurs because firearms are in the hands of people who simply do not care about themselves or the value of another’s life. Our police department is hard at work to make sure those responsible for last night’s incident are held accountable, for the safety and well-being of us all.

The portion of the statement I read did not address the needs of teenagers this time.

Chicago Alderman Brendan Reilly released a letter, stating the area surrounding the McDonald’s had become a “gang and narcotic loitering hot spot for several years and [he has] received empty promises of ‘beefing up patrols’ on the Mass Transit Unit to curtail this trend.” He expressed his disappointment with the situation. According to CWBChicago, Alderman Brian Hopkins referred to the “foolish policies that have stripped away consequences to violent criminals for the damage they cause” as he commented on last night’s shooting.

Later in the morning, the City’s Department of Buildings closed the McDonald’s for violations under the City’s building code (electrical). There may have been violations, but those were clearly a pretense. One of the reporters I spoke with this afternoon, who regularly works the crime beat, told me that this McDonald’s had been a gathering spot for gang members for years, which explains the criminal activity in the area. There is a Chick-fil-A two or three doors east of the McDonald’s. Will gang members relocate their conference room there?

The good news: The police already seemed to be acting: I saw one person removed from the ‘L’ station in handcuffs. I also overheard one cameraman say he saw a police officer confiscate a butcher knife.

Let’s see whether the police follow through, or whether the show of force is just for the cameras.

[Click on an Image to Enlarge It]