Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot has doubled down on her stance that the National Guard is not needed in her city, but pledges to track down the looters who tore through the Chicago streets early Monday.
“To our residents, I want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to restore your homes and businesses,” Lightfoot said. “And to those who engage in that criminal behavior, let’s be clear, we are coming for you.”
Rioting began after a 20-year-old man was shot by police officers during a confrontation Sunday afternoon in the city’s Englewood neighborhood.
Latrell Allen, 20, faces two felony counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the incident and one felony count of unlawful use of a weapon. He allegedly pointed a gun and fired multiple shots at uniformed police officers.
“After this shooting, a crowd gathered on the South Side. Following the police action, tempers flared fueled by misinformation,” said Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown.
Both Brown and Lightfoot suggested the criminal justice system failed the last time there was looting two months ago.
“Criminals took to the streets with the confidence that there would be no consequences for their actions,” Brown said.
City council official Alderman Hopkins is pointing the finger firmly back at the superintendent and the mayor, accusing them of not being prepared after receiving information about what was going to happen.
“They waited for this to get out of control before they started bringing in police officers from all the neighboring districts, and by then it was too late,” he said.
Lightfoot quickly shut down the accusation.
“Alderman Hopkins has a pension for letting his mouth run before he actually gets the facts. I don’t think there’s any reason for me to say anything further. Our police department got the intelligence [and] acted on it quickly brought…. what we need now is not Monday morning quarterbacks and sideline critics.”
