Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Chicago Public Schools students are mounting a call to end the violence on Tuesday, lobbying lawmakers in Springfield for more funding to improve their education and safety just after three more teenagers were wounded overnight in gun violence.

As CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman reports, it is no ordinary field trip for the students from Jones College Prep, at 606 S. State St., who have boarded buses for Springfield with Chicago Public Schools chief executive officer Arne Duncan. Some of the students are even putting law class experience to use in lobbying legislators about something highly important to them.

The 23 students on the bus planned to speak for the 23 students who no longer have a voice because they have suffered violent deaths this year.

Their lost potential angers and frustrates their peers.

"People my age are getting killed out there," said student Rene Howard, "and a death is never good, especially a young one."

Howard hopes state lawmakers take that to heart. In addition to additional funding, he and classmates are asking for tougher gun laws.

"My uncle was killed due to guns, so I want to give him his voice," said student Emmanuel Izaguirre. "I want other people to have his chance, and I don't want people to suffer the way I did."

Student Angela Flores said additional state dollars might help fund extracurricular activities.

"It provides a safe environment for children after school – especially with all the violence going on, right now, I think the safest place to be is in school, instead of walking around your neighborhood," Flores said.

The kids know sharing ideas like those in a forum that counts might create change. They also know they cannot rely on adults to make a safer world.

"The problem is with peer pressure," Howard said. "I think that's where it starts, actually, because if they're not listening to their parents, they're probably listening to the people around them."

The students from Jones are not the only ones going to Springfield. Students from Whitney Young High School already lobbied, and more lobbying efforts from other students and schools are in the works.


3 More Teens Shot In City Overnight
Despite rallies, the much-publicized sadness that comes with crime, some still are not getting the message about resolving conflict peacefully.

In one shooting, a 15-year-old boy was shot around 10 p.m. near Grenshaw Street and Pulaski Road.

The boy was standing on the sidewalk talking with a friend in the 4000 block of West Grenshaw Street when two adult men behind him, one on the sidewalk and one in a vehicle, began arguing over property, possibly DVDs, according to a Harrison District lieutenant.

The argument escalated and the man on the sidewalk began firing shots at the vehicle, according to the lieutenant, who said at least nine shots were fired. The 32-year-old male driver of the vehicle, who was the intended victim, was able to escape uninjured, but the 15-year-old boy suffered injuries to the back of his head.

"I was going to go to a store. I saw a van pull up," said witness Donald Clemons. "When he pulled up, a car pulled up behind him and started shooting."

The boy was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, where his condition was reported as stable. His wounds were "very superficial," police said.

Police have arrested a man in the shooting, and charges were pending as of early Tuesday.

In another shooting, a 16-year-old girl was shot twice in the abdomen as she stood in the sidewalk in the 4500 block of South Honore Street around 10:30 p.m. She was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, where her condition was stable. It was not clear if she was the intended target, police said.

A dark-colored vehicle fled the scene, police said. No one was in custody as of the 5 a.m. hour.

Curfew for those under 17 was recently pushed up to 10 p.m. for weeknights.

In addition, a 19-year-old man was reported in critical condition after being shot in the back while sitting in a vehicle in the 900 block of West Garfield Boulevard.

The victim was with three other men in the vehicle about 9:20 p.m. Monday, sitting behind the front passenger seat, when he was shot twice in the back, according to Deering District Capt. Donald O'Neill.

It has not been disclosed whether any of the victims were CPS students.

CBS 2's Kristyn Hartman and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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