Mayor Daniel Biss on April 17 released a summer safety plan and statement regarding the April 12 shooting at Evanston’s Clark Street Beach that killed Jacquis Irby, an 18-year-old Skokie resident and injured two 15-year-old Skokie residents.
“It was a senseless outbreak of violence resulting in the loss of life and ripples of pain across our community,” Biss said.
Residents criticized the city for not issuing a shelter-in-place or giving immediate safety instructions. Biss says the city decided it was unnecessary since the shooting appeared to be an isolated incident.
“I strongly believe we made the right call,” Biss said. “It’s essential to reserve those sorts of communications for when they’re necessary to ensure they’re taken as seriously as possible if they do ever have to occur.”
Biss said the shooting stresses the importance of violence prevention work. The Evanston Police Department and the Youth and Young Adult team within Parks, Recreation and Community Services have been working on EPD’s Summer Operational Plan and the My City, Your City, Our City Safe Summer Initiative, he said.
The plans include an additional police beat dedicated to downtown and the lakefront during daytime hours, two additional evening beats focusing on the lakefront, crime hot spots and nuisance complaints, EPD’s Community Relations Unit will attend block parties and Parks and Recreation Department events, YYA sponsored healing circles and increased YYA visibility at the lakefront, according to Biss’ statement.
The city isn’t alone in receiving criticism for its response, Northwestern University students also said the university’s response was slow and inadequate. The university was under a shelter-in-place for more than an hour after the shooting. Northwestern’s shelter-in-place was issued more than 30 minutes after the shooting took place.
“I called Northwestern security (shortly after the shooting) and the guy had no clue what was going on,” Northwestern student Ani Kabillio said. “It was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life. I’ve never heard gunshots before.”
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Another Evanston shooting occurred the same day at 4:10 p.m. in the area of Ashland Avenue and Payne Street, according to an EPD statement. This shooting injured a 39-year-old Wheeling resident after having two rounds fired at him. The victim blocked one round by holding up a bag with an iPad inside it, according to the statement. A suspect, Alex Gorobets of Gurnee, has been charged.
Biss said the shootings remind him of the importance of “addressing the continuing horror of guns (and) gun violence.” He says municipalities have little leeway on the issue due to state and federal law as well as U.S. Supreme Court rulings.
“That said, I am not willing to just lament how little power we have and throw in the towel,” Biss said. “The City of Evanston will do everything we can to get guns off the streets, whether that’s continuing the buyback programs we’ve been holding for some time (or) participating in efforts to name, shame and pressure gun manufactures through the group Mayors Against Illegal Guns that I joined last fall.”
The police department hosted a gun buyback event last December that took in 98 weapons, including firearms, pellet guns and ammunition.
Other Evanston officials shared a similar sentiment with Biss, with Councilmember Clare Kelly saying it should bring forth ideas to help young people grow and develop.
“Not only is this tragedy and loss something every Evanstonian should pause and reflect on, but this should compel us to want to do more to assist in the growth and development of our young people,” Kelly said.
No offenders are in custody for the fatal Clark Street Beach Shooting as of Tuesday afternoon, according to an EPD statement. The North Regional Violent Crimes Task Force and EPD will continue investigating and urges those with information to contact the Evanston Police Detective Bureau at 847-866-5040.
Corey Schmidt is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.