Violence in Chicago Rises, 104 People Shot over Father's Day Weekend
Chicago saw its highest number of gun violence victims in a single weekend this year with 104 people shot—14 of them fatally—with at least five minors being struck by gunfire.
Chicago saw its highest number of gun violence victims in a single weekend this year with 104 people shot—14 of them fatally—with at least five minors being struck by gunfire.
According to the Chicago Sun Times, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said in a news conference on Monday morning, "Bullets don't just tear apart the things they strike. Bullets also tear apart families. Bullets destroy neighborhoods and they ruin any sense of safety in a community."
Among the victims was three-year-old Mekhi James, who police said was fatally shot Saturday as the boy was in a car with his 27-year-old father. Investigators say the father was the intended target but survived the attack. The father reportedly drove his son to a nearby hospital where the boy was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
Also over the weekend, a 13-year-old girl was shot and killed—and two other teens were wounded—on Saturday night when shots were fired into their home as they were watching television.
The girl was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead. The condition of the other two youths has not been released.
In another incident, two teenage boys—reportedly 15 and 16 years of age—were walking in an alley when someone fired at them. Both teens were struck by gunfire and were transported to a nearby hospital, where the 15-year-old was pronounced dead and the 16-year-old was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and is listed in fair condition.
Superintendent Brown said police were working hard to track down those responsible for the violence and said that "gangs, guns, and drugs" are the common thread in most of the recent shootings.
More Patrol

POLICE Product Test: Streamlight Wedge SL
The Streamlight Wedge SL is a high-performance light for inspection or administrative tasks that features USB-C charging and an output up to 500 lumens in a compact package.
Read More →
NLEOMF Officer of the Month Saved Child from Burning Vehicle
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund named Officer Michael Jaycox of the San Jose Police Department (California) as the Officer of the Month for May 2026. Read more about Jaycox’s heroic actions.
Read More →
Garmont Tactical Introduces the Contact Collection for LE
Garmont Tactical has launched its Contact Collection, a new lineup of law-enforcement duty boots featuring 4-inch and 6-inch options, including waterproof models.
Read More →
Folds of Honor Celebrates Graduation Season as 1,613 Military and First Responder Family Scholars Earn Their Degrees
Every Folds of Honor scholar graduating in the Class of 2026 carries a story starting with sacrifice. Folds of Honor ensures it doesn’t end there. Since 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded nearly 73,000 educational scholarships to military and first responder families.
Read More →
Why Tennessee’s New Deadly Force Law Matters Beyond Tennessee
Tennessee’s new deadly force law is more limited than many may realize. Effective July 1, 2026, the law applies to a person who is not engaged in conduct that would constitute a felony or a Class A misdemeanor and who is in a place where the person lawfully resides. But it could have far-reaching influence.
Read More →
When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer by Police Vehicle?
Time-sensitive injuries like penetrating trauma mean a wounded officer needs to reach a trauma center as soon as possible, and in some cases, that means transporting by police vehicle rather than waiting for EMS. What are the factors to consider in making that transport decision?
Read More →
Safariland Solis Rethinks Concealable Duty
What if Level I retention didn’t require a full duty rig? Safariland’s Solis delivers trusted ALS security in a streamlined OWB platform built for administrative and plainclothes professionals who need protection without the bulk.
Read More →
5 Things to Know When Buying Backup Lights for Patrol Use
What is the value of a backup light, and what do you need to consider when selecting one? These smaller lights are invaluable as a secondary or special-purpose light and can be easily carried in a pocket or clipped to MOLLE gear, a key chain, shirt, or a vest.
Read More →
363 Fallen Officers Honored During National Police Week
In case you missed NELOMF’s annual Candlelight Vigil, here are all 363 names of the fallen officers whose names were added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial this year.
Read More →
NYPD Officers Who Responded Quickly During IED Incident Recognized as NLEOMF Officers of the Month
Chief Aaron Edwards and Sgt. Luis Navarro were recognized by NLEOMF as Officers of the Month for their response during an IED incident and their actions that helped prevent harm to the public.
Read More →
