Is Chicago Safe? Weekend Killings, Violence Claim 6 Lives Of People Younger Than 27 Years Old

Six people were killed and more than 47 were injured in Chicago following a spate of shootings across the city this weekend. All of those killed were under the age of 27, Fox News reported Monday.

In the 24-hour period between Saturday and Sunday, three men were killed and 29 were wounded from gun violence, the Chicago Tribune reported Sunday.

The most recent homicide occurred at 1:54 a.m. local time Monday morning when local police responding to reports of gunshots on the West side of the city found a 25-year-old woman lying dead on the sidewalk. The woman, who had been shot in the head outside of an elementary school, was pronounced dead by officers upon arriving at the scene.

“We've had quite a few multiple-victim incidents this weekend," said Officer Jose Estrada, a Chicago police spokesman, told the Chicago Tribune Sunday.

A 17-year-old boy, and a 15-year-old boy were wounded at 4:24 a.m. local time Monday from gunshots on the West side of the city. The boys were standing on the sidewalk when someone in a black SUV fired at them. Both victims were taken to a local hospital where the 17-year-old is still critical condition, while the 15-year-old’s condition has been stabilized.

There were 4,331 victims of shootings in Chicago in 2016. The city witnessed 3,550 shootings and 762 murders last year, which was an average of at least 2 murders and roughly 10 shootings every day, according to an ABC News report on Jan.3, 2016. Last year’s death toll was 57 percent greater than 2015's, which represented the biggest yearly jump in murders in the city in 60 years. Police say signs in the shooting indicate it may have been inspired by gang activity.

Twenty-one children under the age of 13 were killed in 2016 as a result of gun violence in Chicago. Tacarra Morgan, 6, was among the five other children under the age of 13 to be killed in July 2016. She was shot in broad daylight on July 19, 2016, while she was playing with her mother and grandmother on their front lawn. Police say the killing occurred after Tacarra was caught in the crossfire of a gang-related shooting happening a few blocks from home. When the intended target of the gang shooting ran several yards in an attempt to get away, he ran past Tacarra who was accidentally shot and killed.

This is unacceptable," Chicago Police First Deputy Superintendent John Escalante told local reporters. "This is a child, like any other child in the city of Chicago, who should be able to enjoy a warm summer day and play in front of her house and play on her porch with her family."

More than 42 children under the age of 13 were among the 2,900 shot in Chicago in 2015.