[Brandon716]

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jul/25/spiraling-murder-rate-sparking-political-spats/

Chicago: Murder rate sparks political spats

Governor complains crime at 'epidemic proportions'
Andrea Billups (Contact)
Friday, July 25, 2008

It's been one long, bloody year for the Windy City.

Murders are up 13 percent. During the past school year, 29 Chicago-area youths were killed by gunfire. On one April weekend, 40 people were shot. Over the July Fourth weekend, nine people were gunned down - with three more killed this past weekend.

The press is dubbing Chicago "Beirut by the Lake."

The inner-city crime wave has sparked political spats. Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich told fellow Democrat Mayor Richard M. Daley he might send in National Guard helicopters and the Illinois State Police as an elite tactical team to help Chicago cops. Some observers consider the offer an embarrassment to the mayor and his new police superintendent as well as a political power move, arriving just as the city enjoys a singular honor. Chicago is among the finalists to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

"It's fair to say that violent crime in Chicago is out of control," Mr. Blagojevich said recently. "In certain communities in the city of Chicago, it is reaching epidemic proportions."

 

[Brandon716]

I actually posted the above article from July to reference something that happened this weekend.

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/child.killed.crossfire.2.808011.html

10-Year-Old Fatally Shot In Gang Crossfire
CHICAGO (CBS) ― A 10-year-old girl was fatally shot after being reportedly caught in gang crossfire Monday night.

A spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner's office confirmed the fatality, but the identity of the girl has not been released. Family members identified her as Nequiel Fowler.

About 5:25 p.m., Fowler was at 8728 S. Exchange Ave. in the South Chicago neighborhood when she was shot.

Witnesses say they heard the shooter yell gang slogans before opening fire.

"It's more like a reality show to me. It's unreal. It hasn't even set in," said the victim's grandfather Johnnie Flemming. "But this has become an everyday thing that is going on. It hurts me that it's going on, but in the times we live in, it's a sign of our times."

There were apparently 2 kids shot on the eve of going back to school this week, this is the story of one.