Man found dead, fatally shot in a South Chicago alley that used to be monitored by ShotSpotter

Police did not find any shell casings during an initial search of the area.

The neighborhood where the man was found used to be monitored by the city’s ShotSpotter gunfire detection network. That ended when Mayor Brandon Johnson, acting against the wishes of a City Council supermajority, the police superintendent, and about 70% of city residents, decided not to renew the company’s contract beyond September 22.

Had the system been operational, it may have given police a precise and timely notification of the shooting. That could have resulted in the victim being found sooner and may have helped police find shell casings, which can be valuable evidence.

One of the many City Council members who fought to maintain the ShotSpotter system was Ald. Gregory Mitchell (7th), who represents the area where the victim was located.

About this series

As of 12:01 a.m. on September 23, 2024, Chicago terminated its relationship with ShotSpotter, a gunfire detection system deployed in 12 of the city’s most violence-impacted neighborhoods.

Mayor Brandon Johnson stubbornly refused to reconsider his decision to dismantle ShotSpotter, even though the vast majority of aldermen, many citizens, victim’s advocates, and his handpicked police superintendent requested that it remain in place.

This reporting series, named “Brandon’s Bodies,” seeks to document cases of shooting victims and police investigations that could have benefited from gunshot detection technology.

The general criteria for inclusion are a gunshot victim found outside in a location previously served by ShotSpotter with either (1) no accompanying 911 calls about gunfire or (2) calls about gunfire in a general area that do not lead to the timely location of the victim.