While Chicago leaders boasted of falling crime rates, Memorial Day weekend delivered a grim reality: 24 people shot and 3 killed across the city. The bloodshed left communities rattled and raised questions about whether Mayor Brandon Johnson’s victory lap was premature.

Deadly Violence Strikes Multiple Neighborhoods

Chicago police reported a wave of violence between Friday evening and Monday night, leaving several neighborhoods on edge. In Logan Square, an argument inside a car ended in a fatal shooting, with the suspect still on the run. Near Humboldt Park, a 46-year-old man was shot in the head—his vehicle crashed into another car and a utility pole just moments later.

Additional shootings hit areas near homeless encampments and private homes. Two victims were gunned down inside their South Side residence, while two more were wounded in a separate incident near Humboldt Park. Despite a heightened police presence for the holiday, gunfire rang out across the city, highlighting the persistent dangers residents face.

Mayor Johnson Defends Record Amid Holiday Carnage

Mayor Johnson insisted the city is improving, pointing to year-to-date crime statistics: violent crime down 21%, homicides down 24%, and shootings down 33%. He credited these drops to hiring 200 new detectives and raising the clearance rate for shootings and homicides to nearly 85%.

Crime is down in Chicago. We are grateful for this progress, but we know there is more to do. I want to thank our police officers, first responders, violence intervention workers, and community organizations who all worked hard this weekend keeping Chicagoans safe. pic.twitter.com/tsBgjMYhgR

— Mayor Brandon Johnson (@ChicagosMayor) May 28, 2025

Yet the holiday violence cast a long shadow over these claims. With 139 homicides already in 2025, Chicago is on pace to see fewer deaths than in 2024—but the carnage remains shocking. The disconnect between official optimism and brutal street-level reality is becoming harder to ignore.

Gang Influence and Foreign Criminal Networks Stir Concerns

Compounding Chicago’s crime woes, ICE agents arrested two Venezuelan nationals tied to the violent Tren de Aragua gang. The arrests were part of a broader sweep targeting transnational crime syndicates suspected of operating within the city. Federal authorities say organized foreign gangs are exploiting America’s lax border enforcement and sanctuary city policies.

We started this summer with HISTORIC drops in crime, and it’s continuing that way.

This past weekend had the LOWEST number of  shootings in recorded history for a Memorial Day weekend in our city. That’s years of commitment to ending gun violence bearing fruit thanks to… pic.twitter.com/BGjC0dkHdC

— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) May 27, 2025

The infiltration of international criminals only heightens fears among law-abiding residents. Despite Mayor Johnson’s rhetoric about reform and affordability, gang activity, random violence, and illegal immigration continue to plague large swaths of Chicago.

With summer approaching, the city faces a dangerous crossroads. Memorial Day’s violence may be just the start of another deadly season unless action replaces statistics and promises.

Sources:

Chicago crime: 24 shot, 3 killed over Memorial Day weekend, police say

Chicago’s bloody Memorial Day weekend leaves 22 shot, 2 dead: report – DNyuz