Greetings,
Our hearts are broken today. Last night, five people between the ages of 14 and 18 were shot on Green Bay Road near Asbury. One of them passed away and another is in critical condition. Our whole community is reeling from this shocking act of violence, from the youth of the victims, and from the tragic loss of life.
I send all my thoughts and condolences to the victims and their loved ones. This will be a painful time of grieving and healing for so many.
As a city, we simply have to do better. We must redouble our investment in violence prevention and outreach efforts. We must connect our youth with the services they need. Most of all, we must recognize that every act of violence has devastating consequences that ripple into all of our lives.
The ugly truth is that a tragedy of this magnitude can sometimes desensitize people, owing to the temptation to shield one’s eyes from this kind of trauma. I understand that instinct, but we will only solve this problem when we all give it the attention and priority it requires.
I commit to conduct myself consistent with that principle, and I want to thank the Evanston Police Department and other City of Evanston staff who have been tirelessly dedicating themselves to the resolution of this case in that same spirit.
Again, my heart is with the victims, with their families, loved ones, and friends, and with our whole community. May this moment of pain spur the action needed to create real peace in Evanston.
Sincerely,
Daniel Biss
Mayor, City of Evanston
dbiss@cityofevanston.org