Over the recent Juneteenth holiday weekend, eight people were killed and nearly 40 others wounded in a series of shootings across Chicago, including a mass shooting during a celebration on the Far South Side. Among the victims was 14-year-old Marcus Chatman, who was fatally shot late Thursday in Auburn Gresham. Chatman, a youth football player for the Midwest Hawks in Country Club Hills, was struck multiple times around 11:30 p.m. on the 8000 block of South Carpenter Street, according to Chicago police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

A significant incident occurred Friday night in Roseland, where a red SUV drove by a crowd gathered on the 200 block of West 95th Street and occupants opened fire, injuring 14 people aged 17 to 47. The event drew national attention when former President Donald Trump commented on social media about the ongoing violence in Chicago, criticizing local leadership and questioning why Governor J.B. Pritzker had not sought federal assistance.

Other victims in shootings from Thursday evening to early Monday included seven individuals killed in various neighborhoods on the South and West sides, such as Austin, Englewood, Bronzeville, Little Village, West Pullman, and Chatham. Additional shootings left nearly 20 others injured, according to police reports.

In response to the surge in violence, a coalition of city and county officials, alongside advocacy groups, has called for the establishment of a dedicated Department of Gun Violence Reduction in Chicago. The proposed department would operate with a $100 million budget derived from existing public safety funds. It aims to provide a more coordinated and sustained approach to violence prevention by centralizing efforts currently dispersed among multiple agencies, including the mayor’s Office of Community Safety.

Deputy Mayor for Community Safety Emmanuel Andre outlined the proposal at a City Hall news conference, emphasizing the need for long-term stability in addressing violence beyond temporary measures. The new department would have contracting and procurement authority to employ violence interrupters and other frontline workers directly. The plan represents approximately 3% of the city’s $3 billion public safety budget for 2026.

Mayor Brandon Johnson has expressed support for the initiative, stating that it would align and sustain violence prevention efforts citywide. Advocates highlight that the department would incorporate a broader range of social services, including housing, job programs, and youth engagement, expanding beyond traditional public safety functions. Pastor Beth Brown, a former interim commissioner with the Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability, emphasized the need for a coordinated, multidisciplinary strategy.

The coalition plans to seek both an executive order from Mayor Johnson and a City Council ordinance to create the department, with the latter intended to ensure its permanence across future administrations. The ordinance is expected to be introduced before the council’s August recess and considered during fall budget discussions.

While support for the department is strong among advocates and city officials, the Chicago Police Department has not publicly commented on the proposal, deferring questions to the mayor’s office. Previous efforts to establish a similar office under former mayors Rahm Emanuel and Lori Lightfoot were unsuccessful, leading some aldermen, including Ronnie Mosley, to stress the importance of making the department a permanent fixture rather than a temporary initiative.

Despite recent declines in overall violence, Chicago experienced a spike over the holiday weekend, underscoring ongoing challenges. Community leaders, including the Rev. Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church in Auburn Gresham, have renewed their calls for decisive action, framing the proposal as a necessary step to curb firearm-related violence in the city.