Two Chicago Tribune staffers spent the 4th of July weekend with a close-up view of Chicago's escalating gun violence.
Tribune reporter Peter Nickeas and photographer E. Jason Wambsgans worked the overnight shift during the holiday weekend when a staggering 82 people were shot and more than a dozen killed. The journalists documented their crime coverage with live updates on Twitter and Instagram including some grim images that show just how destructive the violent weekend was.
Here's what it looks like to report on more than 80 shootings in just 4 days:
Shots fired, couple blocks north east of 90/Loomis #Chicago
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 3, 2014
Two shot here, 63/Damen #chicago pic.twitter.com/LZhN0caarh
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 4, 2014
Can smell the fireworks all over
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 4, 2014
2 dead, 10 wounded in shootings, 3p Thursday - 5a Friday #chicago
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 4, 2014
Truth RT @megcraig1: We're going to play way more of the "gunshots or fireworks?" game tonight than I'd like. #chicago
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 5, 2014
"Just got a downer, female down, not sure what's wrong with her, behind the bus. Ambulance rolling." Chicago/Clark #chicagoscanner
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 5, 2014
"GET ON THE FUCKING GROUND." #chicagoscanner near where police found a gunshot victim
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 5, 2014
Many shots fired calls, called in by police, nearby MT @SPOTNEWSonIG: 1 assault weapon recovered 11728 S Princeton.
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 5, 2014
Seven (at least) people shot, including mutual combatants shooting between cars tonight #chicago
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 5, 2014
36 people shot, 3 fatally, this holiday weekend (since 330p Thursday). 3 shot by police. #chicago
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 5, 2014
Montrose/Malden, 2 people shot, about a dozen casings here #chicago pic.twitter.com/FKoIAFskTc
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 6, 2014
It really is a beautiful night outside.
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 6, 2014
Shooting by the tennis courts, east of Lake Shore Drive by Addison #chicago pic.twitter.com/cNbdfwuCXb
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 6, 2014
Blood on the pavement. Two shot, 3800 N Recreation Drive #chicago pic.twitter.com/XSnPvR35ha
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 6, 2014
Man hit by a car - I290 eastbound at Ashland #chicago pic.twitter.com/wlKHrpxIIV
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 6, 2014
16 shot. 2 by police. 5 dead, 11 wounded. 1030a Saturday - 445a Sunday. #chicago pic.twitter.com/bxIvhWEt5V
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 6, 2014
63/Ashland #chicago pic.twitter.com/SI8AsFP3ls
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 7, 2014
Shooting north of this scene we are at. On Harvard at 113th. 6 or 8, then one more. Saw guys running between cars.
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 7, 2014
K9 ready, helicopter still overhead, 81/Exchange. 3 shot, plus lots of shooting while police here #chicago pic.twitter.com/d3EB6Osbkn
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 7, 2014
Impressive lightning and thunder but no rain yet. People still getting shot - most recently in 011 on the West Side. #chicago
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 7, 2014
12 people shot since 9 p.m. At least 2 dead. #chicago
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 7, 2014
Well the rain is here now, and holy god it's like I'm in a car wash
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 7, 2014
29 shot Sunday afternoon into the night. 4 dead, 25 wounded between 230p and 330a. Several remain in critical condition. #chicago
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 7, 2014
81 shot, 14 fatal, 330p Thursday-330a Monday. 5 of 81 by police (2 dead, 3 wounded) #chicago pic.twitter.com/SztDXX35pz
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 7, 2014
I missed one shooting. Was in the story but I didn't count it. 82 shot, 68 total wounded, 14 dead.
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 7, 2014
9 shot, 1 fatally last night. 82 shot, 16 fatally over the holiday weekend. @AdamSege on the overnight grind http://t.co/cQN9vgy0CS
— Peter Nickeas (@PeterNickeas) July 8, 2014