12 shot in Chicago on Juneteenth, two critical, police say

At least 12 people were shot on a Chicago street late Friday evening when an SUV pulled up and two individuals inside opened fire, according to the Chicago Police Department. The shooting occurred on the city's South Side, a neighborhood that earlier that day had hosted the opening of the Obama Presidential Center.

Police reported that eight men and four women, ranging in age from 17 to 47, suffered gunshot wounds. Two men were critically injured, including one with a wound to the thigh. All victims were transported to four area hospitals, where they are receiving treatment. Another man sustained unknown injuries and declined medical attention.

Officers initially responded to a call of one person shot and discovered a woman with two gunshot wounds to her back and a man with four graze wounds to his back, both listed in fair condition. The SUV fled the scene and remains at large. Detectives are investigating the incident, and further details have not been released.

The shooting occurred on Juneteenth, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Earlier that day, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the first visitors to the newly opened Obama Presidential Center, also located on the South Side.

Pastor Donovan Price, an advocate for gun crime victims, expressed dismay at the violence on a day meant for celebration. “It should be celebrating,” he said. “Fireworks should not turn into gunshots.”

Since Friday evening, Chicago police reported at least 21 people shot across the city, with four fatalities. The incident adds to ongoing concerns about gun violence in the city, which has seen a rise in shootings in recent years.