A shootout during a picnic in Washington Park on Saturday night now ranks as the second-largest mass shooting in Chicago since at least 2013 after police increased the number of victims to 15. One of those victims has died.
The shooting also marks Chicago’s 454th mass shooting since 2014. Those incidents have left 2,248 people shot, including 299 who were killed, according to HeyJackass, a website that meticulously compiles Chicago crime data from CPD reports and open-source materials. The site had adopted the widely recognized definition of a mass shooting: four or more people shot in a single event.
Chicago police officers were monitoring a planned gathering in the park on the 5400 block of South Cottage Grove Avenue when multiple people began shooting around 11:37 p.m., police said. An officer reported “nonstop” gunfire over their radios as people ran for cover.
Police quickly shifted into lifesaving mode, using medical kits to apply tourniquets and specialized adhesive dressings to victims with chest wounds while waiting for paramedics to arrive.
Officers recovered shell casings from multiple firearms at the scene, including rifle rounds. A witness also reported seeing a man flee the area carrying a rifle.
CPD initially reported that a 35-year-old man had died, while nine other people were injured. Police later increased the victim count to 14 after identifying four additional women who had gone to the University of Chicago Medical Center and Northwestern Memorial Hospital for treatment. On Sunday afternoon, police identified the 15th victim, a 44-year-old woman who was also being treated at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
The shooting is now tied for second-worst in Chicago since HeyJackass recordkeeping began in 2013. Its data show the Chicago shootings with the most victims are:
- 18 shot, four fatally, following a rapper’s release party at Artis Lounge at 311 West Chicago Avenue on July 2, 2025
- 15 shot, none killed, at a Halloween party in the 1200 block of South Pulaski Road on October 29, 2023
- 15 shot, none killed, outside a funeral home in the 1000 block of West 79th Street on July 21, 2020
- 14 shot, 1 fatally, at a Halloween party in the 800 block of South California on October 31, 2022
- 13 shot, none killed, at a memorial for a murder victim in the 5700 block of South May on December 22, 2019
- 13 shot, none killed, on the basketball court at Cornell Square Park, 1800 West 51st Street, on September 19, 2013
In all, 30 people were shot across Chicago on Saturday, making it the highest single-day total since 47 people were shot on July 5, 2024, according to HeyJackass data. Before Saturday, the worst single-day shooting tally this year was on June 19, when 27 people fell victim.
Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the shooting on Twitter: “Through last night’s shootings, we are reminded of the devastating impact of gun violence. In a matter of moments, a life can be taken, families can be forever changed, and communities can be left grieving. We remain steadfast in our work to break these cycles of trauma by continuing to stop the flow of guns into our communities and investing in the resources that help prevent violence before it occurs. My administration will continue to show up for those impacted by these violent acts by providing access to victim services and mental health support.”
Cook County Crime Stoppers has announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the person or people responsible for Saturday’s shooting.
“This senseless act of violence has devastated another Chicago community and left families dealing with unimaginable pain,” said Paul Rutherford, the organization’s executive director. “We are asking everyone in the community to do the right thing. If you know who was responsible, if you heard something, saw something, or have information that could help detectives, please come forward. You can remain completely anonymous. You don’t have to put yourself or your family at risk. Let Crime Stoppers be the middleman and help law enforcement get the information they need to solve this case.”
Tips can be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-535-7867 or online at www.CPDTIP.com. Rutherford said Cook County Crime Stoppers does not require tipsters to provide their names. Instead, tipsters receive a numerical code they can use to claim the cash reward if their information leads to an arrest.
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