50 SHOT, 5 FATALLY, IN CHICAGO WEEKEND VIOLENCE; EMANUEL TO INCREASE PATROLS
CHICAGO (WLS) — The Chicago Police Department will increase patrols following a violent weekend in the city. Fifty people, five of whom died, have been shot since Friday night.
One of the fatalities is Tyjuan Poindexter, 14. His family said he was a good kid and was walking to a school park when he was shot Saturday around 7:30 p.m. near East 44th Street and South Greenwood Avenue in the North Kenwood neighborhood. A 15-year-old boy he was walking with was also shot.
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Police said neither boy had criminal records nor any gang affiliations.
“I know the streets get real dangerous and they ain’t trying to do nothing about it. My grandson is not a gang-banger,” Michael Gabb, victim’s grandfather, said, breaking down with emotion.
“Maybe if (police) were on foot,” Carolyn Evans said. “You see like neighborhoods up north or downtown where there’s more foot patrol, so maybe that might help.”
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel said he will increase the number of police on patrol in each district, especially those with higher crime. His 2016 city budget will move 319 officers out of administration duties and onto the street, he said.
The plan is to saturate the area with officers and reduce violent crime.
“Chicago will never turn its back on its own children. We are better than that,” Mayor Emanuel said Monday morning.
He did not talk about the plan Monday, but said kids need jobs to help keep them off the street. Poindexter’s grandfather said it takes more than police and jobs. He believes communities need to get more involved.
“All parents gotta be aware of their children,” Gabb said.
Those administrative jobs will be filled by civilian workers, Mayor Emanuel said, and more police will be on the street as soon as those people are hired.
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