More Than 60 Shot, 9 Dead in Chicago's Bloody Holiday Weekend

To say there are parts of Chicago that resemble the worst of war-torn Africa would be stating the obvious:

Independence Day celebrations were marred by multiple shootings in Chicago that reportedly left at least nine dead and 60 injured.

The first fatal shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m. Friday, kicking off a violent weekend for the city.

Corey Hudson, 34, was killed after a car pulled up and someone inside shot him and a friend on the street. According to ABC News station WLS-TV in Chicago there were also three police-involved shootings on July 4th alone. At least one suspect involved in one of those shootings was killed.

The most recent shootings occurred Sunday night, according to WLS-TV.

They city has been actively combating gang and shooting violence in recent years after a bloody year in 2012, when it was the only city in the nation to record more than 500 homicides.

To bring down the high murder rate, police have been dispatched by the hundreds in dangerous neighborhoods and government officials have worked with community leaders to try to combat violence.

"We will keep building on our strategy, putting more officers on the street in summer months, proactively intervening in gang conflicts, partnering with community leaders," Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said in a statement.

The strategy appeared to be working, with the number of homicides falling to 415 in 2013 from more than 500 the year before. However the murder rate was still higher than many other U.S. cities. By comparison New York City, which is more than triple the size in population recorded less than 350 murders in 2013.

As of June 30, there were nine fewer homicides in Chicago than during the same period as last year, according to The Associated Press.

After a weekend like that and they're patting themselves on the back? Superintendent McCarthy should be fired.

The city is a colassal tragedy. It's beyond questioning whether gun control is the cause or a symptom of the violence. Residents are often caught in the crossfire from gangs so it's problematic whether easing restrictions on guns can do much good in protecting innocent life (although constitutionally speaking, most of the laws should be repealed anyway).

The authorities are at a loss at what to do. They are celebrating a decline of about 3% in gun deaths. Many more "victories" like that and Africa will begin to look like a paradise of serenity by comparison.

More Than 60 Shot, 9 Dead in Chicago's Bloody Holiday Weekend

To say there are parts of Chicago that resemble the worst of war-torn Africa would be stating the obvious:

Independence Day celebrations were marred by multiple shootings in Chicago that reportedly left at least nine dead and 60 injured.

The first fatal shooting occurred around 2:30 a.m. Friday, kicking off a violent weekend for the city.

Corey Hudson, 34, was killed after a car pulled up and someone inside shot him and a friend on the street. According to ABC News station WLS-TV in Chicago there were also three police-involved shootings on July 4th alone. At least one suspect involved in one of those shootings was killed.

The most recent shootings occurred Sunday night, according to WLS-TV.

They city has been actively combating gang and shooting violence in recent years after a bloody year in 2012, when it was the only city in the nation to record more than 500 homicides.

To bring down the high murder rate, police have been dispatched by the hundreds in dangerous neighborhoods and government officials have worked with community leaders to try to combat violence.

"We will keep building on our strategy, putting more officers on the street in summer months, proactively intervening in gang conflicts, partnering with community leaders," Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy said in a statement.

The strategy appeared to be working, with the number of homicides falling to 415 in 2013 from more than 500 the year before. However the murder rate was still higher than many other U.S. cities. By comparison New York City, which is more than triple the size in population recorded less than 350 murders in 2013.

As of June 30, there were nine fewer homicides in Chicago than during the same period as last year, according to The Associated Press.

After a weekend like that and they're patting themselves on the back? Superintendent McCarthy should be fired.

The city is a colassal tragedy. It's beyond questioning whether gun control is the cause or a symptom of the violence. Residents are often caught in the crossfire from gangs so it's problematic whether easing restrictions on guns can do much good in protecting innocent life (although constitutionally speaking, most of the laws should be repealed anyway).

The authorities are at a loss at what to do. They are celebrating a decline of about 3% in gun deaths. Many more "victories" like that and Africa will begin to look like a paradise of serenity by comparison.