Bloody Chicago weekend yields just one arrest after 12 died, 66 injured

Protestors have called for Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel to step down for failing to rein in violence.

Kia Morgan Smith

Aug 10, 2018

Chicago thegrio.com AP — A man wipes his eyes as dozens of people, who were forced outside or asked to leave, from the Stroger Hospital emergency waiting room area due to overwhelming crowds of family and friends of shooting victims, wait outside for any news on the shooting victims, Sunday, Aug. 5, 2018. (Antonio Perez/ Chicago Tribune)

In one of the deadliest weekends so far this year, Chicago police have made their first arrest after 12 died and 66 were injured in a spasm of gun violence, according to CBS News.

Police attributed the bloody weekend mostly to gangs as officers charged Rick Franklin, 27, of the 2900 block of West Warren Boulevard, Chicago, with three felony weapons charges in connection to the shootings, the report says.

Franklin, arrested Sunday, has also been charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, aggravated discharge of a firearm, and being an armed habitual criminal.

The violence peaked early Sunday, including one incident on the city’s South Side when eight people were shot and wounded. Police say that 14 of the shooting victims were juveniles, including two who died.

By comparison, at least seven people were killed and 32 were wounded during the long Memorial Day weekend—usually one of the most violent of the year, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Franklin was identified by surveillance video, involving a Saturday shooting of a 26-year-old man who was shot in the left foot. Franklin is being held without bail and scheduled back in court on Friday.

Recently thousands of anti-gun violence protesters crammed onto the Dan Ryan Expressway in Chicago and shut it down, carrying signs and chanting “Stop the killing” to protest the city’s gun violence epidemic and demand change, writes the Tribune.

After a brief, but tense standoff with state police the marchers were joined by Chicago’s top cop for a while. No arrests were reported.

Led by Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Catholic Church in Chicago, the anti-violence protesters brought traffic to a crawl, as police officials tried to dissuade the protest leader, and the Rev. Jesse Jackson from entering onto the busy the Interstate 94.

Last week, anti-violence protestors took to the streets of Chicago again to march for the “forgotten” people as tensions continue to rise in the troubled city.

Also at issue, protestors have called for Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, to step down for their handling of racial incidents in communities of color.