*As we reported earlier, the death of 7-year-old Amari Brown has shined a light on a sad ritual that has accompanied the annual 4th of July festivities in Chicago.
Since the ‘90s, gun violence has become a major issue in the city with the number of annual gun deaths ranging between 400 and 500 in recent years. Reuters notes that Chicago is known the most violent large city in the United States this is the result of issues such as poverty, segregation, dozens of small street gangs, and a pervasive gun culture.
Brown died Saturday (July 6) after he was hit by gunfire from a man who shot a group of people in an apparent gang-related attack as he ran around a corner. Two hours after being rushed to the hospital in his father’s arms, the young died.
Prior to his death, Amari was enjoying a backyard fireworks display in the Humboldt Park neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. Despite police working 12-hour shifts with an increase in patrols, Amari ended up being the youngest of nine people killed from gun violence over the Independence Day weekend. Along with the killings, Reuters reports that guns were also responsible for injuries suffered by 50 people during the long weekend.
The street where Amari was killed was said to have featured security cameras that were installed by police in an effort to prevent crime. Speaking to Reuters, police revealed that the shots that hit Amari were meant for his father, Antonio Brown, a man authorities said is a ranking member of the Four Corner Hustlers gang, with dozens of arrests. At the time of his son’s death, Antonio Brown was free on bond on a weapons charge.
Source Eurweb.com
10 killed, 55 wounded in Fourth of July gun violence in Chicago was originally published on wzakcleveland.com
