12 shot, 5 fatally, in Chicago as July 4th holiday weekend begins

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The Fourth of July holiday weekend is already shaping up to be a violent one. Twelve people were shot, five fatally, across Chicago in the last 24 hours. The latest shooting took place Friday evening at a park in Bronzeville, wounding a 17-year-old and 19-year-old. The 17-year-old was taken to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The violence started Thursday morning when a 22-year-old man was killed during a drive-by in the 13200-block of South Greenwood. He was taken to Christ Medical Center, where he later was pronounced dead.

Later than night, a 20-year-old man was killed while he was riding his bike in the 2700-block of South Karlov, where police say a gunman shot him several times. He died after being taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital.

Two deadly shootings happened overnight; one of them in the Back of the Yards neighborhood near 49th and Justine. Police say just after midnight, a 26-year-old man was sitting on his porch when a man walked up and fatally shot him.

About an hour later near 92nd and Ashland, a man and woman were walking in an alley when someone in a white van shot both of them. The 46-year-old man was shot in the head and died. The 43-year-old woman is recovering in the hospital.

Chicago police will be visible this weekend, and are working 12-hour shifts to try and combat the violence over the long holiday weekend.

That rule was put into effect after last year's deadly Fourth of July weekend, when 82 people were shot. Fourteen of those people died.

But there are also everyday people like the "Moms on Patrol" who are trying to help keep the peace.

The Moms on Patrol are encouraging other mothers to get involved. While the volunteer effort is based in Englewood, not all the moms are; there is a mom from Bronzeville and another from south suburban Hazel Crest.

"I think it is absolutely heartbreaking, but I know that it's preventable," says Tamar Manasseh about the violence.

"They love us," says Katina Neely about the communities they're protecting. "They want us here, they want our help."

"These kids that are shooting each other known each other," says Lasondra Essex. "They grew up together. There are ways it can be solved, but it's going to take the community."

So the moms gather across the street from a memorial to a woman who was buried today after being shot. They realize it's a pivotal time, a time to be pro-active and volunteer in hopes of changing the statistics.

"I recommend that everyone does this," says Manasseh. "If you can step out in front of our house, it's the easiest volunteer job you'll ever have."

For more information on Moms on Patrol and how to volunteer, contact: Tamar Manasseh at 773-885-9871.