President Trump says Chicagoans are clamoring for federal law enforcement assistance with shouts of “Bring in Trump” after two weekend shootings left one teen dead and several others wounded downtown.
Mr. Trump reiterated his desire to crack down on crime in Chicago and called out “massive crime and rioting” after seven teenagers were injured Friday in a shooting outside the Chicago Theatre. Less than an hour later, a 14-year-old boy was killed in a separate shooting, police said.
“Multiple Police Officers attacked and badly injured. 300 people rioting, 6 victims shot, one critical and one dead,” the president posted Saturday on Truth Social. “In the meantime, Governor [J.B.] Pritzker and the Low IQ Mayor of Chicago are refusing federal government help for a situation that could be quickly remedied. The people are chanting, BRING IN TRUMP!!!”
Police have not confirmed if any officers were injured in either of the shootings.
Mr. Trump appeared to be taking cues from Alderman Brian Hopkins, the 2nd Ward Democrat who posted about 300 juveniles rioting downtown and officers being assaulted with mace and stun guns. Mr. Hopkins said one officer had to be hospitalized.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said 18 people were arrested and five weapons recovered amid the violence. However, the Democratic mayor said none of the suspects was thought to be the triggermen in the two shootings.
“It is, quite frankly, frustrating and quite upsetting when this type of violence takes place because it does engender and evoke fear,” Mr. Johnson said. “So we will have a strong police presence. We’ll have stronger control over how traffic flows.”
Crowds had gathered downtown for Chicago’s official Christmas tree-lighting ceremony Friday when gunshots rang out around 9:50 p.m.
Authorities said seven teens between 13 and 17 years old were hit by gunfire. All of the teens were listed in good condition after suffering grazes or leg wounds.
Police said another shooting took place five blocks away in Federal Plaza around 10:40 p.m. Officers arrived to find 14-year-old Armani Floyd suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He died hours later at a hospital.
Police said an 18-year-old man was also injured in the shooting and was rushed to a hospital in critical condition.
Mr. Johnson said the violence stemmed in part from a planned “teen takeover” that officials had gotten wind of days before.
“There was a communication that was delivered to [Chicago Public Schools] to encourage young people not to participate in these unauthorized gatherings,” the mayor said. “We had 700 additional officers on top of the First Police District present. We had [Community Violence Interruptor] workers were out there as well.”
Chicago police sent an additional 300 officers downtown Saturday following the mayhem late Friday.
Mr. Trump has been angling to send National Guard troops into Chicago to assist with Operation Midway Blitz, the federal government’s crime and immigration crackdown in the city.
But a federal judge has blocked Mr. Trump’s attempt to deploy some 500 members of the Texas and Illinois National Guard into Chicago.
The immigration operations have been met with violence at times. Officials said a Mexican national was charged with shooting at Border Patrol agents earlier this month, and two Venezuelan nationals were accused of ramming their car into federal vehicles in October.
However, scrutiny over the immigration raids has grown as the government shares information about who it is arresting.
Court documents said less than 3% of the 614 detained during recent enforcement sweeps in Chicago present a “high public safety risk.” Detainees in that category include being connected to crimes such as domestic assault and drunken driving.
