President Donald Trump called for federal intervention in Chicago after six people were killed and 39 others wounded in weekend shootings, while separate investigations revealed that at least 13 Washington, D.C. police officials were terminated for allegedly manipulating crime statistics.
Chicago experienced a violent weekend that included a mass drive-by shooting in the Princeton Park neighborhood on Friday night. The shooting left multiple victims with gunshot wounds transported to local hospitals, according to Chicago police.
Trump’s Response
President Trump posted on Truth Social that the city needed federal assistance, saying, “Lots of Killing going on in Chicago. Why isn’t Governor Pritzker calling me for help. I could make Chicago a safe City in ONE MONTH, in ONE YEAR, it would be one of the safest!!!”
Trump referenced his deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., citing the capital’s crime reduction as a model for other cities. The initial casualty count in Trump’s post differed from police’s later revised figures.
🚨MAJOR NEWS🚨
13 D.C. Police officials have been terminated for their involvement in the manipulation of crime data.
These terminations are a direct result of the Oversight Committee’s work exposing dangerous efforts by DC Police leaders to artificially lower crime rates. https://t.co/pvn7rzmas0
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) May 5, 2026
Chicago’s Official Response
Chicago Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson responded to the Princeton Park incident, stating, “I am heartbroken by the violence in Princeton Park last night. What should have been a night of celebration and community reflection for Juneteenth was shattered by a horrific act of violence.”
Chicago police confirmed that two suspects opened fire on a crowd of people after an SUV drove up to the area. All shootings remain under investigation, police said.
DC Crime Data Scandal
Separate investigations in Washington, D.C. found that senior police officials allegedly downgraded serious offenses into lesser categories in official reporting systems. The practice reportedly involved multiple districts and layers of department leadership within the Metropolitan Police Department.
Second District Commander Tatjana Savoy and former Third District Commander Michael Pulliam were among those terminated or disciplined. Cmdr. Pulliam had previously been suspended after violent crime reclassification allegations surfaced.
Broader Impact
The alleged manipulation drew criticism from House Oversight Committee members, who said the practice created “the perception of low crime in the District” while residents continued reporting violent crime concerns. District commanders reportedly told investigators they felt pressure from leadership to “fix” crime numbers.
Federal prosecutors reviewing cases from the department have upgraded certain assault and firearms charges, indicating suspects may have been undercharged by local authorities. Critics argue that manipulated crime statistics distort public understanding of safety trends and affect resource allocation decisions.
This story has been updated. CNN’s Digital team contributed to this report.
