The unofficial start of summer saw violent incidents across the nation. The Gun Violence Archive said there were 15 mass shooting incidents across a dozen states during Memorial Day weekend, with at least 70 injured and nine killed.
That's almost exactly the same total as in 2022, when Memorial Day weekend saw 71 injured and nine killed, also across 15 incidents, reports Scripps News.
City officials and law enforcement have been boosting summer resources.
"However you decide to spend your holiday weekend in Chicago, your safety is my top priority. And to that end, our public safety agencies have plans in place for the weekend and summer months to ensure that everyone can enjoy our city in peace," said Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson.
Historically, crimes tend to spike during the summer. Experts disagree on the reason.
One theory is that the warmer weather makes people more aggressive. Amid decades of study, there is a growing body of research that suggests there might be a link.
A Drexel University study found that this held for unusually warm days during months that were typically colder, not just during the summer season.
Another theory is that more incidents occur possible simply because warmer weather means more people are outside. Not to mention, kids and young adults are out of school.
People in the age range of 15–24 tend to commit the most violent crimes. Criminologists sometimes refer to this as "the age-crime curve."
In 2021, the National Bureau of Economic Research looked at data from New York City's youth employment program, the largest of its kind. Participants in the program decreased the chance of any arrest by 17% and decreased the chance of felony arrests by 23%.
"Giving young people productive things to do goes a long way to cut down on violent crime, but also gives them hope and opportunities," said Justin Bibb, Mayor of Cleveland.
Not everyone is on board with the approach.
Tio Hardiman of Violence Interrupters in Chicago told Fox News that the current approach is not working.
"It’s just insane because we cannot keep repeating the same mistakes expecting different results here in Chicago when it comes to reducing gun violence," Hardiman said.