US Rep. Davis Plans Chicago News Conference on Gun Violence

Brian Jackson / Chicago Tribune

CHICAGO (AP) — Elected officials from Chicago, including U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, are planning an announcement about violence.

Davis’ office says the Chicago congressmen will join U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush, state Sen. Kwame Raoul and others Monday at City Hall.

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On Saturday, Davis called for tougher gun laws and more investment in neighborhoods during a funeral for his 15-year-old grandson.

Javon Wilson was shot dead earlier this month after an argument over basketball shoes. Two juveniles — a 16-year-old boy and 17-year-old girl — have been charged with first-degree murder and ordered held without bail.

Chicago has seen an increase in gun violence this year, with nearly 700 homicides and nearly 4,000 shooting victims. In August alone 91 people were killed, marking the deadliest month in the city in two decades.

Earlier this month, Chicago police officials said there was a drop in the number of shootings and homicides over the weekend of November 13th after dozens of officers flooded three areas of the city.

On Monday, November 14, 2016, Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson said there were 37 shooting incidents over the weekend compared to 63 the previous weekend and 70 the Halloween weekend. That weekend ended with five homicides compared to 18 during the Halloween weekend.

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Police said they had sent additional city, state, county and federal officers into the areas on the South and West sides where crime data and gathered intelligence suggested there might be retaliatory shootings for shootings that had occurred over the prior two weekends. There, they made traffic stops, conducted parole checks and served warrants.

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