Chicago police are investigating after at least 12 people were shot when an SUV pulled up near a crowd on the city’s South Side and two people inside opened fire, officials said.
The shooting happened late Friday during the Juneteenth holiday weekend. Police said the vehicle drove away after the gunfire, leaving victims wounded across the scene. Detectives are still working to determine who was responsible and what may have led to the attack.
According to police, the victims included eight men and four women between the ages of 17 and 47. Two men were listed in critical condition. Others were taken to several hospitals for treatment. One additional man reportedly suffered unknown injuries but declined medical care.
Officers initially responded to a call of one person shot and found a woman with gunshot wounds to her back and a man with several graze wounds. Both were listed in fair condition. As police continued responding, the scale of the shooting became clearer.
TRENDING TODAY
Local reports said the attack took place in a South Side neighborhood where a large group had gathered. Investigators recovered evidence from the scene, but police had not immediately announced arrests or a motive.
The shooting came during a violent start to the weekend in Chicago. Police said at least 21 people had been shot across the city since Friday evening, including four people who died. Those numbers may change as investigators update case information.
The timing added another painful layer to the incident. The shooting happened on Juneteenth, the federal holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States. The day is normally marked by community gatherings, remembrance and celebration.
Local anti-violence advocate Pastor Donovan Price told CBS News that the shooting was especially heartbreaking because the holiday should have been a moment of celebration, not fear. He said fireworks should not be replaced by gunfire.
The incident also occurred on a day when Chicago’s South Side was already receiving national attention. Earlier Friday, former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama welcomed the first visitors to the Obama Presidential Center, which recently opened to the public.
For residents and advocates, the shooting underscores the continuing challenge of gun violence in Chicago, particularly during weekends and holidays when large gatherings can become vulnerable targets. Community leaders have repeatedly called for more prevention efforts, stronger neighborhood investment and faster intervention before disputes turn deadly.
Police have not said whether the victims were specifically targeted or whether the shooting was random. The lack of immediate answers has left residents waiting for more details as detectives review evidence and seek information from witnesses.
Mass shootings in public spaces often leave harm beyond those physically wounded. Families, nearby residents and witnesses may carry lasting trauma, especially when violence erupts during a holiday meant to bring people together.
For now, investigators are asking anyone with information to come forward as the search continues for the people inside the SUV.
Why It Matters
The shooting matters because it highlights the human cost of gun violence during a major American holiday. At least 12 people were wounded in a single attack, and the timing on Juneteenth made the violence especially painful for a community that should have been gathering in celebration.
What Comes Next
Chicago detectives will continue searching for the SUV and the people involved in the shooting. Officials may release more information on the victims’ conditions, possible suspects and whether investigators believe the attack was targeted.
A video report from Chicago showed police investigating the South Side mass shooting after a red SUV allegedly opened fire on a crowd.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: 12 people were shot & another was injured in a mass drive-by shooting in the Princeton Park neighborhood on Friday night.
Two suspects in a red SUV opened fire on a crowd celebrating Juneteenth.
One victim is in critical condition. No arrests have been… pic.twitter.com/GCOSYnRphT
— GeoTechWar (@geotechwar) June 20, 2026
