CHICAGO (WLS) — A young teenager has been arrested and charged in connection with a shooting incident that injured four children in Bronzeville on Saturday night, according to Chicago police.
The incident occurred around 9:39 p.m. in the 4500 block of South Prairie Avenue.
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Authorities reported that the victims include an 11-year-old boy, two 13-year-old boys, and a 14-year-old boy, all of whom sustained injuries in the shooting.
The alleged shooter, a 13-year-old boy, was apprehended roughly 20 minutes after the shots were fired. He faces charges of four counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm, among others.
The accused is due to make a court appearance in juvenile court on Monday.
In response to the violence, community leaders and local officials are calling on parents to take proactive measures to address the safety of their children.
Bamani Obadele, from Acclivus, an organization that works to deter violence, reacting to a violent weekend that left multiple young people hurt.
Community leaders said around 300 teens had gathered in the area.
“That’s the question we have to ask, how do guns get in the hands of 12 or 13 year olds?” Obadele said. “So it’s a head scratcher. There’s no easy solution. We’re not looking to be as punitive with our young people right? And don’t want to criminalize them. However there’s got to be some accountability.”
Alderman Pat Dowell said in a statement in part, “Parents must be accountable. The attention our young people seek must be found first in the home. Businesses that are complicit in hosting these events must be held responsible and, if necessary, closed.”
Acclivus said they will be hosting a number of community events to keep young people engaged throughout the summer.
“We have this basketball initiative that’s kicking off today,” Obadele said. “Acclivus sports out at the Pullman Center and then we are doing play street events on the west side of North Lawndale, we will be doing some hyper-local kind of community events across the city to allow young people to do just that be safe and peaceful with some adult supervision.”
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