16-year-old boy fatally shot near Chicago tourist attraction

A 16-year-old boy was fatally shot near “The Bean” sculpture in downtown Chicago’s Millennium Park, authorities said.

Police saidAt 7:30 p.m., the teenager was shot in his chest near the popular tourist attraction. The boy has not been identified by police.

He was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital where he was pronounced dead, police said.

Authorities arrested at least two suspects and recovered at least two weapons. said.

Investigative efforts are ongoing. The police did not offer any further information.

Many hundreds were present at the park on Saturday to protest a draft opinion leaked by the Supreme Court that suggested the court is ready to overturn constitutional rights to abortion. It is unknown if the teenager who was shot took part in the demonstration that began at 1 p.m. The majority of participants had already dispersed by the end of the afternoon.

Following the shooting, police closed the park and cleared it. It is unknown when it will reopen.

This shooting occurs amid an increase in violent crime in Chicago in recent years. According to the Chicago Police Department’s May 8th update, Chicago saw 779 shootings and 194 homicides this year. This compares to the 898 shootings and the 207 homicides in the same time period in 2021.

Some cities in the United States saw dramatic rises in homicides last year, including Chicago and others. Chicago’s 797 homicides in 2021– its highest toll for any year in a quarter century– eclipsed the totals in the two bigger U.S. cities, surpassing Los Angeles’ tally by 400 and New York’s by nearly 300.