Chicago shootings leave 7 dead, 38 hurt as Trump renews military call

Chicago,UPDATED: Jun 22, 2026 00:30 IST

A wave of shootings in Chicago has left at least 38 people injured and seven dead since Friday evening, according to police. The violence prompted US President Donald Trump to renew his call for military intervention in the country’s third-largest city.

In a post on Truth Social on Sunday morning, Trump said, "Why isn't Governor Pritzker calling me for help. I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE YEAR, it would be one of the safest!!!" The office of Illinois Governor J B Pritzker, who has repeatedly rejected Trump’s calls for a military intervention and is seen as a potential Democratic presidential contender in 2028, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Under Trump, Guard troops have been deployed on crime-fighting missions in Democrat-led cities including New Orleans, Washington, DC, and Memphis, Tennessee. Chicago Police Department data shows a slight rise in shooting incidents compared with the first half of last year, though violent crime in the city has generally fallen over the past few years, in line with national trends.

Preliminary information shared by Chicago police showed there had been at least two dozen shooting incidents since 5 pm on Friday. Those killed included a 21-year-old who was shot in the chest on Sunday, an 18-year-old who was shot in the armpit on Saturday evening, and a 50-year-old who was shot in the chest on Friday.

In one of the incidents, at least 12 people in a crowd on a Chicago street were shot on Friday evening after an SUV pulled up and two people inside opened fire, police said. The victims included eight men and four women aged between 17 and 47, who were taken to four hospitals for treatment. Police said another man suffered injuries that were not known and refused medical treatment.

The shooting happened on Juneteenth, the holiday marking the end of slavery in the US. Earlier that day, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama had welcomed the first visitors to his presidential centre on the South Side. Mayor Brandon Johnson said in a post on X on Saturday, "What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence." He added, "My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones." Johnson also said, "Violence has no place in our city, and those responsible will be held accountable."

The shootings capped a violent spell in Chicago over the weekend, with police reporting at least 38 injuries, seven deaths and around two dozen separate incidents since Friday evening, as political attention again turned to the city’s law-and-order situation.

With PTI Inputs

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