Two dead, seven injured in Chicago Fourth weekend

Chicago Fourth – Chicago saw at least two deaths and seven injuries during the Independence Day holiday weekend, including two Chicago police officers shot Friday in South Shore and multiple other shootings across the city.

For the third night in a row, Chicago’s Independence Day holiday weekend carried the sound of gunfire—starting before dawn and stretching into traffic-stops and street arguments—leaving at least two people dead and seven others hurt.

Friday afternoon, two Chicago police officers were shot by a man during a traffic stop in South Shore. Around 5 p.m., officers were involved in a stop when the suspect fled. Police Supt. Larry Snelling said that the officers later caught up with the man in the 7900 block of South Chappel Avenue. During a struggle, the suspect pulled a gun from a bag and shot Carl Williams in his protective vest. Snelling said Williams fired several shots and hit the suspect multiple times.

Esteban Cervantes was also struck. Snelling said an investigation is under way to determine whether Cervantes was hit by the suspect’s gunfire or whether it was friendly fire. Cervantes was shot in the arm. Both officers were described as having non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was in critical condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Earlier that day, the violence in Chicago continued at a darker pace. Shortly before dawn on Friday, a 52-year-old man was found dead in Pilsen. Chicago police said the man was found unresponsive about 4:50 a.m. outside in the 1900 block of South Canalport Avenue. Police said he suffered head injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

By Saturday morning, the city was again grappling with a gunshot death investigated as homicide. Police were investigating the death of a woman who shot herself early Saturday in Portage Park. The woman. 47. was in an argument with a man armed with a gun in the 5000 block of West Sunnyside Avenue around 3:30 a.m. Police said the woman disarmed the man and shot herself in the head. She was taken to Lutheran General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Separate incidents added to the toll beginning Thursday evening, with at least four other people injured in shootings since 5 p.m. Thursday.

At 9:55 p.m. Thursday, a 31-year-old man was shot in the 7200 block of South Green Street. Police said he was shot in the leg and was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition. Minutes later, a 51-year-old man was shot by a male during an argument in the 6500 block of South Claremont Avenue. Police said he was struck in the arm and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center. where he was in serious condition.

Friday evening brought more injuries. Around 8:35 p.m., an 18-year-old man was shot while walking in the 6000 block of South Indiana Avenue. Police said he was shot by someone in a nearby group. He was struck in the buttocks and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center. where he was in fair condition.

Then around 6 a.m. Saturday, a 54-year-old man was shot during an argument with a male in the 7900 block of South Ashland Avenue. Police said he suffered gunshot wounds to the hip and thigh and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn in fair condition.

Taken together, the weekend’s incidents show how quickly different moments—traffic stops, arguments, and early-morning confrontations—can turn into shootings that leave victims scattered across city neighborhoods and hospitals.

Chicago shootings Fourth of July weekend Carl Williams Esteban Cervantes Larry Snelling Pilsen death Portage Park shooting Northwestern Memorial Hospital University of Chicago Medical Center Christ Medical Center Oak Lawn