Stories by Matt Masterson

Crime data released Wednesday by the Chicago Police Department shows the city has recorded 524 homicides and 2,344 shootings so far in 2021. Those totals are up 3% and 9%, respectively, over the same time period last year.

The Chicago police officer seen in a video grabbing a woman as she attempted to leave North Avenue Beach with her dog Saturday has been placed on administrative duties while the incident is investigated.

Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she was “deeply concerned” by the altercation between a white male officer and Nikkita Brown, a Black woman. The incident is now under investigation by the Civilian Office of Police Accountability.

Among the five people who were fatally shot over the weekend in Chicago, three were killed or discovered dead within a 30-minute time frame early Sunday, according to police.

Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan announced that a juvenile has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Yvonne Ruzich, who was killed as she sat in her car outside her work in the early morning hours of Aug. 16.

A Cook County judge has not yet scheduled a date for the criminal trial of actor Jussie Smollett, but he did rule Thursday that attorneys for the former “Empire” star cannot call State’s Attorney Kim Foxx or her chief deputy to testify.

Alexandru Mihai, 19, was denied bail Thursday after his arrest on charges of attempted murder, possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

With the new school year set to begin Monday, Chicago Public Schools interim CEO Jose Torres said he believes the district has done enough to protect both students and staff amid a surge in COVID-19 infections.

Curtis Tyler, 30, was ordered held on $350,000 bond during a hearing Wednesday afternoon following his arrest on charges of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, theft and public indecency.

Fewer than 1 in 10 ShotSpotter alerts between 2020 and 2021 resulted in evidence of a gun-related criminal offense being found, according to a new report from Chicago’s independent watchdog.

Police Superintendent David Brown said Officer Carlos Yanez Jr. has been transferred from the intensive care unit into a rehab unit, weeks after he was shot multiple times during a traffic stop.

The victims included five people who were shot in the 3400 block of West Lake Street early Sunday, and six others who were shot Saturday evening in the 1600 block of East 87th Place.

Activists and youth leaders are calling on Chicago officials to dump the city’s contract with gunshot detection company ShotSpotter, claiming the technology is unreliable and often leads to police being sent into communities on “high alert” for false alarms.

Justin Cortes, 25, is facing a first-degree murder charge after he allegedly shot and killed Angel Figueroa, 38, in Humboldt Park earlier this month as the victim rode in a car with his girlfriend and daughter.

Jermaine Little, 35, was ordered held without bail after he was arrested on two counts of attempted first-degree murder along with charges of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated assault of a peace officer.

Chicago Public Schools will not require eligible students to get a COVID-19 vaccine, but once in-person classes resume Aug. 30, those who are unvaccinated and test positive for the virus must quarantine for 14 days.

Chicago police officials have released video of two suspects sought in connection with the fatal shooting of Yvonne Ruzich early Monday as she sat inside her car in the 13300 block of South Baltimore Avenue.

The Civilian Office of Police Accountability said the order bars “the city of Chicago and its entities” from releasing any materials related to the fatal shooting of police Officer Ella French under the Freedom of Information Act or the city’s transparency policy.

Chicago police said the girl and her 6-year-old sister were each shot multiple times by an unknown suspect in the 6200 block of West Grand Avenue around 2:50 p.m. Sunday. 

With less than three weeks until in-person classes resume, Chicago Public Schools has announced it will require all teachers and staff to get a COVID-19 vaccine by the fall.

Kenyate Jackson will be held without bail after he allegedly followed a stranger into a Lincoln Park store in broad daylight, grabbed her and choked her for several minutes until a witness could pry him off the woman’s body.

Chief Judge Timothy Evans issued an order allowing nearly all domestic violence proceedings to go forward by videoconference or teleconference, saying it’s being done “in order to better serve victims” in these cases.

Jamel Danzy will be released from jail following his arrest on a federal charge earlier this week. The 29-year-old Indiana man allegedly acted as a straw purchaser to buy the firearm used to kill Chicago police Officer Ella French.

The 21-year-old Chicago man who allegedly shot and killed Officer Ella French during a traffic stop Saturday has been ordered held without bail and remains hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the chest. His brother, who has also been charged, was held without bail during a separate hearing.

Emonte Morgan, 21, and his brother Eric Morgan, 22, each face criminal charges stemming from the Saturday night shooting in West Englewood that left one police officer dead and another in critical condition.

Jamel Danzy, 29, of Hammond, Indiana, was arrested Sunday and has been charged with conspiracy to violate federal firearm laws.