36 shot, no homicides in Memorial Day weekend gun violence across Chicago, police say

Chicago's weekend safety plan included canceling officers' days off, but the city also poured resources into neighborhoods and engaged young people with community events.

With hours left in Memorial Day weekend, there were prayers for peace at Millennium Park on Monday night.

"We want Chicago to be one of the safest cities in the whole world, so we're just praying that there would be little violence or no violence," said Holy Trinity Church Sr. Pastor Jon Dennis.

This gathering is part of a church-based initiative called "Hands Across Chicago" that aimed to reach young people this weekend with dozens of block parties and other community events.

"Could we dare to believe it's not 'What's up with the Chi? There's always so much violence,' but rather, 'What's up with Chicago?' Because we see hope rising, and we see friendships, and we see unity, and we see community," said Doc Fuder with Together Chicago.

This weekend, Chicago police had a show of force on the lakefront, downtown, and in the neighborhoods.

Police reported that at least two dozen people have been shot since Friday evening, including four teenagers Sunday morning near 25th and Washtenaw. But so far, there have been no confirmed homicides, which if that holds, would be the first time that's happened on Memorial Day weekend in at least a decade or more.

"Those previous years, the violence has been crazy, but what I can say, this weekend, it has been lesser shootings and violence," said Justin Peters with Chitown Crime Chasers.

Peters, a community violence interrupter, says he and his team have been working with police to keep large parties and gatherings from turning violent.

"Making sure that we keep the peace and make sure that there's no fighting, nothing, criminal activity going on, and talking to them, giving them resources," Peters said.

Families also gathered on 53rd and Greenwood for a block party hosted by The Vineyard Church of Hyde Park.

According ABC7's count of Memorial Day weekend violence, 2026 is the first time, in at least a decade, that there has not been a confirmed homicide.

The event is meant to inspire hope and call for peace as summer approaches.

"We'll also be gathering to pray for our city this summer," Community Life Pastor at Vineyard Church of Hyde Park Aimee Tucker said. "Chicago, throughout the summer, often has different challenges that are faced, and we know some of that first hand. We really want to pray for God's blessing on the city this summer."

Back at Millennium Park, the message of peace extends beyond this weekend.

"The goal is to carry it all summer long, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, as we know often when violence spikes in the city," Fuder said.

Prior to this weekend, the ABC7 Safety Tracker shows homicides in the city in the past 12 months are down more than 20% compared to the average of the past three years.

A man was found dead with a gunshot wound in the 200-block of North Francisco Avenue, Chicago police said.

CPD made the discovery around 11:22 a.m. on Monday.

A 32-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to the head. CPD said they found a gun at the scene.

Police are conducting a death investigation.

A 21-year-old man was shot at about 10:39 p.m. in the 4500 block of S. Racine Avenue on Sunday, Chicago police said.

The victim was driving a black car when someone in a dark-colored SUV approached and started shooting.

The victim was shot in the arm and chest. He was taken to University of Chicago hospital and is expected to be OK.

Nobody is in custody.

A man was shot while driving on Chicago's West Side on Sunday.

The shooting happened at about 8 p.m. in the 1700 block of N. Laramie Avenue, police said.

A 33-year-old man was driving in a black car when someone in a golden-colored car started to shoot at him.

The victim was taken to Mt. Sinai hospital with a gunshot wound in the left thigh. He was expected to be OK.

Nobody is in custody.