President Donald Trump responded to a violent weekend in Chicago where six people were killed and 39 others shot in separate incidents, as federal investigators scrutinize allegations that Washington, D.C. police manipulated crime statistics to appear safer.
A drive-by shooting in Chicago’s Princeton Park neighborhood Friday night wounded 13 people, with authorities saying two suspects opened fire from an SUV on a gathered crowd. The incident unfolded during Juneteenth celebrations, and additional shootings across the city during the weekend raised the total count to 39 wounded and at least 6 dead, according to Chicago police.
What Happened
Chicago police said two suspects inside an SUV fired on multiple victims before fleeing the scene. “Offenders from inside the vehicle began firing gunshots towards the crowd before fleeing the scene. Multiple victims sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to local hospitals,” the department said in a statement. All shootings remain under investigation by the Chicago Police Department.
Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement about the violence. “I am heartbroken by the violence in Princeton Park last night. What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their loved ones,” Johnson wrote on social media.
The Reaction
President Trump posted on Truth Social with commentary on the shootings and Chicago’s public safety record. “Lots of Killing going on in Chicago. 22 people shot, at least 4 Dead. Why isn’t Governor Pritzker calling me for help. I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE YEAR, it would be one of the safest!!! D.C. went from one of the worst, to one of the safest cities in the U.S. President DJT,” Trump wrote. Trump’s reference to D.C.’s improvement came as final police casualty counts were still being compiled; numbers later increased significantly as additional data from Chicago police was released.
Trump previously deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., as part of a federal public safety initiative. His comparison between the two cities reflects an ongoing focus on crime reduction strategies at the federal level.
What This Means
A parallel federal investigation into Washington, D.C. police operations has raised broader questions about the reliability of crime data in major cities. At least 13 officials within the Metropolitan Police Department have been terminated or disciplined following an internal probe into allegations that senior leaders deliberately downgraded serious offenses into lesser categories to manipulate public crime statistics.
Former Second District Commander Tatjana Savoy and ex-Third District Commander Michael Pulliam received termination notices, along with at least one police captain and other supervisory personnel. Pulliam had been suspended previously after allegations emerged that violent crimes were intentionally reclassified.
Investigators concluded the practice was more widespread than initially believed, spanning multiple police districts and levels of leadership. The alleged manipulation targeted serious assaults, robberies, and other major crimes, reclassifying them in ways that kept them from appearing in public crime statistics released to the community.
Senior police officials allegedly felt pressure from leadership to produce lower crime figures and create what House Oversight Committee lawmakers described as “the perception of low crime in the District.” The strategy became politically significant because city and national officials had cited improving D.C. crime statistics as evidence of successful public safety policies, even as residents continued reporting concerns about violent crime, carjackings, and assaults.
Federal prosecutors reviewing cases from the department found that certain assault and firearms charges had been undercharged by local authorities, leading federal prosecutors to upgrade the charges. Critics say such data manipulation distorts public understanding of crime trends and undermines public trust in law enforcement institutions and the decisions they inform.
