Multiple students were robbed near the University of Chicago campus, with one incident captured on surveillance video. In one robbery, a student managed to grab the gun from the armed robber and remove its magazine before fleeing. The University of Chicago Police Department issued a safety alert after the incidents, and the Chicago Police Department also warned of recent armed robberies in the area. No injuries were reported, but the rise in robberies has left students feeling uneasy, prompting increased police patrols in the area.
Chicago police are investigating three armed robberies that occurred within 15 minutes on the North Side, with victims being robbed at gunpoint by multiple male suspects in black sedans. No injuries were reported, and the suspects remain at large. In addition, a nearby Lululemon store was also targeted by burglars around the same time. Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling are set to announce a robbery prevention strategy in response to the incidents.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability and an independent expert are questioning the rapid escalation of a traffic stop involving Dexter Reed, which led to a shootout with Chicago Police that resulted in Reed's death and an officer's injury. Bodycam footage shows Reed firing first, but questions have been raised about the validity of the initial traffic stop and the proportionality of the officers' use of deadly force. While experts acknowledge that officers were justified in returning fire if Reed shot first, concerns remain about the lack of explanation to Reed about the stop and the tactical unit's involvement in routine traffic stops.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has decided not to renew Chicago's contract with ShotSpotter, a controversial gunshot detection system, following a leaked report from Cook County State's Attorney's Office indicating that the technology has "little impact" in holding shooters accountable. The report revealed that only 1% of shooting incidents end in a ShotSpotter arrest, with concerns raised about the system's reliability and cost effectiveness. The decision comes after years of community activism against the technology, and follows the tragic deaths of two police officers who were responding to a ShotSpotter report in 2018.
Migrants staying at a Chicago Police station in the Pullman community claim they were forced to spend the night outside in freezing temperatures after being told to leave the station. Volunteers who work with migrants said some were taken to a shelter, but those who remained were told they could no longer sleep in the lobby. The police initially denied the claims but later stated that the migrants were allowed to sleep at the station. Concerned volunteers have found temporary shelter for some migrants, while a network of churches will be providing temporary shelter for others.
Migrants in Chicago are battling freezing conditions as the city works to clear police stations and find housing for them. Despite efforts to move migrants out of the stations, there are still nearly 1,100 individuals remaining. The Harrison District, one of the few stations still housing migrants, has reported difficult conditions including freezing water, ice-covered tents, and limited access to the station. The city has offered to take migrants to warming centers during the day, but many are hesitant to leave for fear of missing an opportunity to be moved to a shelter. It remains unclear if officials will take action to address the situation.
An investigation by WBEZ, the Chicago Sun-Times, and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project reveals that several Chicago police officers with ties to the extremist group Oath Keepers have troubling backgrounds, including allegations of excessive force, improper searches, and racist comments. Despite promises from Mayor Brandon Johnson to rid the department of extremists, at least nine officers remain on the force. The Chicago Police Department has faced criticism for its inaction and resistance to taking action against officers with ties to the Oath Keepers. The leaked membership records show that some officers promised to promote the group at work or reported that colleagues recruited them. The department is now opening a new investigation into the officers' involvement with the extremist group.
Two businesses in Uptown, Chicago were vandalized and spray-painted by a group of 10-15 individuals, aged between 18 and 25. The group broke windows, spray-painted doors and walls, and set off a smoke grenade inside one of the businesses. The Chicago Police Department is seeking information from the public to aid in their investigation.
Mayor Brandon Johnson has chosen Larry Snelling, the chief of the bureau of counterterrorism at the Chicago Police Department (CPD), to be the next permanent superintendent. Snelling, a South Side native with extensive experience in firearms and use-of-force tactics, will need approval from the City Council. His appointment comes as the CPD faces challenges in complying with a federal consent decree and rebuilding public trust. Snelling's rapid rise through the ranks has garnered praise from community leaders, and he has been involved in high-profile cases as an expert witness.
An 8-year-old girl was fatally shot in the head in Portage Park, Chicago, after a man known to the police approached a group and opened fire. Another man at the scene tried to disarm the shooter and during the struggle, the gunman was shot in the face. The girl was taken to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after. The police recovered a weapon at the scene and are investigating the incident.
The Chicago Police Department is investigating a series of armed robberies on the city's Northwest Side, issuing an alert to residents to be vigilant. The incidents, which occurred on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, involved two or three males wearing ski masks and dark clothing, armed with handguns, and driving a white Kia sedan. The suspects demanded victims' property and fled the scene. Police are urging residents to not resist if confronted and to provide any information to assist in the investigation.
A Chicago Police Department officer was shot in the left hand during a traffic stop in the Englewood neighborhood. The suspects fled the scene and are still at-large. The injured officer is in good condition at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
A 21-year-old man who was pulled from Lake Michigan at North Avenue Beach has died after being in the water for about 15 minutes. Witnesses reported that he went under water while swimming near a pylon. Chicago Fire Department divers found him and performed CPR before transporting him to Northwestern Hospital, where he was initially listed in critical condition. The Chicago Police Department is investigating the incident.
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) in Chicago is investigating allegations that police officers sexually assaulted migrants living in police stations. However, the agency is having difficulty finding potential victims. Another allegation of sexual misconduct has also emerged from a different police station. COPA has not yet substantiated any of the alleged abuse, but the investigation remains ongoing. The agency is taking a victim-centered approach and acknowledges the barriers that migrants may face in reporting such incidents. Activists have called for the release of the officers' names, and COPA has provided updates to relevant authorities. Migrants may have left the city, making it harder for investigators to reach potential victims.
The Chicago Police Department is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct by a group of officers with newly arrived migrants. The department did not disclose the number of officers involved or whether disciplinary action has been taken. Over 8,000 migrants sent by Texas Governor Greg Abbott have been accommodated in Chicago since August, with some having to sleep on police station floors. All 22 police stations in the city have served as temporary shelters. Following the confirmation of the investigation, about 40 migrants were moved out of the Ogden district police station. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's office stated that they are monitoring the situation closely and take the allegations and the well-being of all residents seriously.
