'We've had enough of it': Johnson addresses violence after more than 100 people shot over holiday weekend

CHICAGO - More than 100 people were shot and 19 were killed in Chicago over the four-day Fourth of July weekend, according to police. 

From the morning of Thursday, July 4, through 11:59 p.m. Sunday, 74 shootings were reported, including several mass shootings, leaving a total of 109 victims.  

Superintendent Larry Snelling and Mayor Brandon Johnson held a news conference Monday morning to discuss crime victim services available to residents in need of support. They also shared that they were as upset as the community they serve. 

Johnson said it takes everyone to prevent gun violence and to help law enforcement solve the numerous shootings that happened over the extended holiday. 

"If I know one thing about Chicago, someone knows something about somebody. Say something because it is a matter of life and death," Johnson said.

Snelling said that sometimes these violent incidents begin as petty arguments. 

"People who have been together all day, they come together as a group, they've been drinking, tempers flare. And people decide that they're going to air out their differences through violence," Snelling said. 

The mayor said he was in constant communication with Chicago police and emergency officials throughout the weekend. He was visible on Sunday at the NASCAR race donning a fire suit and taking a lap. Johnson confirmed previous reports that he was out of town on the day of the 4th. 

He was on a personal trip earlier that week and returned on the evening of July 5 in time to attend a vigil at 71st and Woodlawn. 

Fox 32 spoke with 28th Ward Alderman Jason Ervin on Friday, who said he hadn't heard from the mayor or police superintendent after the mass shooting in his ward but worked with the commander on his own on a safety plan that included checkpoints on neighborhood streets. 

Johnson said that just because he was out of town does not mean he wasn't working.

"My work never ends. It doesn't. I accept the responsibility of 24/7 on-call every day of the week. Very seldom do I get the chance to celebrate on a personal level, but the communication between my office, Chicago Police Department and OEMC, our state and federal partners, none of that stops because I'm out of town," Johnson said. 

Snelling was in town all weekend and said the department made adjustments after Thursday. 

Johnson also noted that the city can't handle its violence problem alone. Specifically, he pointed to the federal government for more help.

A representative from the White House said the request has not fallen on deaf ears.

"This is a major priority because we see the devastation. No other city has been impacted like this to this level. We know we can do more to help the folks on the ground, so we're here for this. This is a major priority for the Biden/Harris administration," said Greg Jackson, Deputy Director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. 

The White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention is a federal initiative that began last year under the guidance of Vice President Kamala Harris. 

Jackson said his office has been in touch with both the mayor's and governor's teams all weekend to coordinate a response.

"The major thing is that there's resources for victims, specifically financial reimbursement for those who have been impacted, to help with hospital care, to help with any burial or funeral costs," said Jackson. 

Jackson also said he has relayed to the city that it could be in line to receive federal reimbursement to the police department to help solve these crimes.

"If there's an additional resource needed for investigative support or whatever it takes to solve these crimes, the federal government is here to supplement those dollars," said Jackson.

The mayor also said he would re-examine future dates for the NASCAR race, although he said he didn't believe the event sucked police resources out of the neighborhoods. 

Chicago crime wrap

Two women died while shielding three children from gunfire in Chicago's Grand Crossing neighborhood early Thursday morning.  

Neekshia Strong, 45, and her 24-year-old niece, Capri Edwards, were inside a home when several rounds were fired from outside. 

Edwards' 5-year-old and 8-year-old sons were taken to Comer Children’s Hospital where they remain in critical condition. Their cousin, an 8-year-old, was also shot and is also in critical condition. One of the older boys was later pronounced dead. 

Johnson and Chicago police visited the neighborhood the next day to re-commit resources to a traumatized community and more shootings followed.

A mass shooting in Little Italy left eight people wounded early Friday morning. Officers found the victims, ranging from 18 to 74 years old in the 1300 block of West Hastings Street at 12:15 a.m.

Four people were shot early Sunday morning in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood. Gunfire erupted between a group on the street and individuals inside a truck. Two of the victims were listed in critical condition. 

For more information about shootings across the Chicago area, see previous reports on Fox 32. 

There were no arrests reported so far in any of the incidents from over the weekend, but Snelling and Johnson said they are working extra hard to get guns off the street and to keep the shooters behind bars.