(The Center Square) – The Chicago Police Department says 127 juveniles have been victims of gun violence in the city this year.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said we have to think about where we are as a society when our kids are being shot in the street.
“The violence that’s going on in this city right now, for the parents of this seven-year-old, has to be unbearable. And it’s unbearable and unacceptable for everyone in our city,” Snelling said.
Recently, a seven-year-old boy was fatally shot from a distance outside his West Side apartment. Snelling said it was about 3 in the afternoon, when the boy exited to visit a neighbor next door.
“This wasn’t a situation where the parents didn’t know where their child was. This child was walking out of his residence,” Snelling said.
Of the 127 children shot in the city this year, 17 have died.
The police superintendent called on prosecutors to keep violent offenders off the street.
Snelling said police are doing everything they can, but he said that repeat offenders cannot be allowed to go back out on the street.
“This is not only frustrating for the Chicago Police Department. It’s not only frustrating when we know that we’ve arrested someone who has committed a violent act and they’re right back out again. It’s frustrating to members of our community,” Snelling said.
The superintendent said people must be prosecuted when they are arrested for violent crimes.
Snelling said police are focused on locations where they’re most needed.
“The top 35 most violent beats out there is where we push most of our manpower, and we do it to keep the violent crime down,” Snelling said.
