Police Arrest 77, Seize Guns In Labor Day Weekend Raid
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Overnight, one man is dead and another is in the hospital after an early morning shooting in Archer Heights. This comes on the heels of a weeks-long operation planned by the Chicago Police Department to get guns off the streets.
CBS2's Lauren Victory reports on the dedicated push, planned specifically to culminate on Labor Day weekend, which is often riddled with violence.
Police clocked one homicide and more than 20 shooting injuries this weekend, and they say the bust will help slow that during the remainder of the holiday.
During the sweep, police:
- Arrested 77 people; 57 of who are repeat offenders, 45 documented gang members, 17 who had weapons offenses, 10 on parole
- Seized 11 handguns and one rifle
- Nearly $66,000 worth of cocaine, heroin and other drugs
"A lot of the violence, more so in the 11th District centers around narcotics," said 1st Department Supt. John Escalante. "Unfortunately, the Eisenhower Expressway, for too long, has served as a gateway for those coming in from the suburbs, and we are trying to have an impact on that."
None of the 77 people arrested in the raid so far have gone down for a specific violent offense.
