Early Spring Shootings

Spring showed her sunny face in the Windy City just in time for St. Patrick's Day.  And as people flooded the streets to enjoy the warmth, to bask in the sun, and even to catch a parade, many of us missed the shocking events that were taking place all around us.

This weekend, between Friday evening and Monday morning, gun violence erupted across the city of Chicago leaving 9 dead and at least 35 people wounded.


Let us remember the families and communities of those whose lives were lost.  As reported by the Chicago Tribune, the dead include:


Aliyah Shell, 6 years old, was the victim of a drive-by shooting in Little Village on Saturday.  She was shot dead as she played on the porch of her home.


Joel Sanroman, 42 years old, was shot dead as he drove in the 3100 block of West 53rd St. early Saturday morning.


Adrian Cruz, 24 years old, was standing in the 5900 block of South Fairfield Avenue, the block where he lived, about 7.04 p.m. when someone inside a vehicle fatally shot him.

Vincent Fitts, 22 years old, was found with a gunshot wound to the head in the 800 block of East 79th Street.

Jeremy Anthony, 24 years old, of the 6400 block of South Ellis Avenue, was shot in the back while inside a vehicle near his home.


Bert Lindsey, 36 years old, was at a friend's backyard party early Sunday when someone drove by and opened fire.


George Marrero, a man in his 20s, was shot dead in the 1400 block of West 53rd Street early Sunday morning.  Two others were wounded in this shooting.


Andre Pierce, 34 years old, was shot in Lawndale and pronounced dead early Monday morning.


Zheri Cureton, 23 years old, was shot dead on Sunday night.


O God, whose names are Love, Wisdom, and Peace,


We recognize that gun violence has touched the lives of so many people right here in our city, tearing at the roots of life and hope within our communities.


With each act of gun violence, with each injury and death, we are outraged.  And despair threatens all our efforts to build families and communities of compassion and peace. 


We pray for the strength to remain resilient and vigilant.  We pray for signs of hope, love, and wisdom--for a path toward peace.  


May we never give up on the vision of a city, a country, a world where gun violence no longer rips at the fabric of our community.  We pray for a world where there are victims no more.


Amen.