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NEW YORK — Joan MacDonald’s health was in shambles at age 71. She was overweight and on numerous medications with high cholesterol, rising blood pressure and kidney trouble.

Her daughter, a fitness coach, warned that she’d wind up an invalid if she didn’t turn things around. She did, hitting the gym for the first time and learning to balance her diet with the help of a brand new tool, an iPhone.

Now 75, MacDonald is a hype beast for health with a bodybuilder’s physique and 1.4 million loyal followers on Instagram.

She’s among a growing number of “grandfluencers,” folks 70 and up who have amassed substantial followings on social media with the help of decades-younger fans.

This photo shows Joan MacDonald, 75, in Tulum, Mexico, in 2020.AP

“It’s so rare to find someone her age being able to do all these things,” said one of her admirers, 18-year-old Marianne Zapata of Larchmont, New York. “It’s just such a positive thing to even think about.”

Both aspirational and inspirational, older influencers are turning their digital platforms into gold.

MacDonald has paid partnerships with the sportswear and supplement brand Women’s Best, and the stress-busting device Sensate. And she just launched her own health and fitness app not so many years after learning how to use digital technology herself.

On TikTok, four friends who go by @oldgays — the youngest is 65 — have 2.2 million followers, including Rihanna. They have an endorsement deal with Grindr as they delight fans with their clueless answers to pop culture questions.

Others focus on beauty and style, setting up Amazon closets with their go-to looks and putting on makeup tutorials live. Lagetta Wayne, at 78, has teens asking her to be their grandmother as she tends to her vegetables and cooks them up in Suisun City, California, as @msgrandmasgarden on TikTok.

This photo shows Lagetta Wayne, 78, in her garden in Suisun City, California, earlier this year. Via her TikTok videos, Wayne has teens asking her to be their grandmother as she tends to her vegetables and cooks them up.AP

Wayne, with 130,500 followers amassed since joining in June 2020, owes her social media success to a teenage granddaughter. Her very first video, a garden tour, clocked 37,600 likes.

“One day my garden was very pretty and I got all excited about that and I asked her if she would take some pictures of me,” Wayne recalled. “She said she was going to put me on TikTok and I said, well, what is TikTok? I had never heard of it.”

Most people ages 50 and up use technology to stay connected to friends and family, according to a 2019 survey by AARP. But less than half use social media daily for that purpose, relying on Facebook above other platforms.

Just 37% of those 70 and older used social media daily in 2019, the research showed. Since coronavirus struck, older creators have expanded their horizons beyond mainstay Facebook, often driven by the growing number of feeds by people their own age, said Alison Bryant, senior vice president for AARP.

This photo shows Jessay Martin, 68 (from left), Robert Reeves, 78, Michael Peterson, 65, and William Lyons, 77, in Cathedral City, California, in November 2020. The four friends, known as the Old Gays, are among a growing number of seniors making names for themselves on social media.AP

In the California desert town of Cathedral City, Jessay Martin is the second youngest of the Old Gays at 68.

“I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life relaxing pretty much, and I do, but this is picking up more for us. I had a very structured week where Monday I worked the food bank at the senior center, Tuesday and Friday I did yoga for an hour and a half, Wednesday I was on the front desk at the senior center. I was just sort of floating by, not being social, not putting myself out there in the gay community. And boy, has the Old Gays changed that,” Martin said.

Like MacDonald, they do a lot of myth busting about what’s possible in life’s sixth, seventh and eighth decades.

“They’re showing that anybody can do these things, that you don’t have to be afraid of aging. The 20 and 30 somethings don’t often think about that,” Bryant said. “The authenticity that we’re seeing in some of these older influencers is really refreshing. That’s part of the complexity of their narratives. They’re bringing other parts of their lives to it. They’re grandparents and great-grandparents and spouses. They’re more comfortable in their own skins.”

Sandra Sallin, a blogger and artist, has slowly built her following to 25,300 on Instagram. Her reach recently extended to the British Olympic gold-medal diver Tom Daley, who raved about her mother’s cheesecake recipe after his coach spotted it online and made it for her athletes and staff. Sallin, a lover of lipstick who focuses on cooking and beauty, also shares photos from her past and other adventures, like her turn last year in a vintage Spitfire high above the Cliffs of Dover.

At 69, Toby Bloomberg in Atlanta is a Sallin supporter. She discovered Sallin after watching her compete on the short-lived Food Network show “Clash of the Grandmas.”

“She talks a lot about aging. That’s quite an unusual phenomenon on social media, which is obviously dominated by people far younger than we are,” Bloomberg said.

Aging, in fact, is what drew Sallin to social media.

“I wanted to expand my world. I felt that I was older, that my world was shrinking. People were moving, people were ill,” she said. “So I started my blog because I wanted to reach out. After that, I heard about this thing called Instagram.

“I really stumbled my way in. I’m shocked because most people who follow me are 30 and 40 years younger. But there are people who are older, who have kind of given up and say, ‘You know, I’m going to start wearing lipstick.'”

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If “Small Engine Repair” comes across as a David Mamet-esque film based on a stage play, that’s because “Small Engine Repair” is a David Mamet-esque film based on a stage play — and in the hands of writer-director-star John Pollono, it’s a searing and raw and provocative viewing experience that might leave some viewers shaken due to the intense content but never comes across as exploitative. It’s a darkly funny, authentic and unforgettable piece of work.

Pollono is best known for his roles on “Mob City” and “This Is Us,” but he’s also an accomplished playwright and screenwriter. He wrote and starred in the stage production of “Small Engine Repair” some 10 years ago, and the cinematic adaptation is finally here, with Pollono and the magnetic Jon Bernthal (“The Walking Dead,” “The Punisher”) reprising their roles, and terrific talents such as Shea Whigham (“Boardwalk Empire”) and Jordana Spiro (“Ozark”) and young actors Ciara Bravo and Spencer House rounding out the first-rate ensemble cast.

“Small Engine Repair” is about three lifelong friends in their 40s who talk tough, act tough and truly are tough — and often behave like idiots, especially after a long night (or day) of drinking. These guys might not know the definition of toxic masculinity, but they’ve skirted the edges of that world for most of their lives. Pollono is a dominant screen presence as Frank Romanoski, the most alpha of these three alpha males, who has done some prison time and is working hard to control his temper and would be the first to tell you he’s done basically one good thing in his life, and that’s raising his 18-year-old daughter Crystal (Bravo), who has the foul-mouthed swagger of her dad and her friends but is also a bright and lovely and sweet girl who will soon be going off to college. Bernthal’s macho lothario Terrance Swaino and Whigham’s undersized and relatively sensitive Packie Hanrahan have always been there for Crystal as well, while Crystal’s hard-partying mother Karen (Spiro) has been AWOL for most of Crystal’s life.

Writer-director Pollono has a keen ear for dialogue and a good eye for working-class visuals, and he has the confidence in his material to let “Small Engine Repair” slowly build to its ultimate destination. The first half of the film is all about establishing the relationship dynamic between Frank, Swaino and Packie, who alternate between clinking glasses and sharing stories and getting into disputes so heated they’ll stop talking to one another for months. When these guys go to a bar, you know there’s a 50/50 chance they’ll get into a scrap with some locals — or with each other. Meanwhile, Karen has decided she’s going to drop back into Crystal’s life and take her out for a night on the town, and let’s just say it doesn’t end with tender moments and reconciliation.

The dramatic stakes are raised considerably when Frank, Swaino and Packie get together at Frank’s repair shop for a night of beers, whiskey, steaks and bonding. Frank tells the boys he’s recently been playing pick-up basketball with a college kid named Chad (House), and Chad will be stopping by to drop off some drugs so they can kick the night into the next gear. Chad pulls up in a Mercedes Wagon which was paid for by his father, a wealthy and powerful attorney, and within minutes of his arrival we can see this guy is the prototypical “bro,” from his haircut and attire to his casually dismissive attitude to the story he tells about … well, we don’t want to give away anything about that story, other than to say it’s the first indication Chad hasn’t the faintest idea of why he’s really been invited to the repair shop.

Before the night is over, crimes will be committed and loyalties will be tested, and “Small Engine Repair” will dive into subject matter that is raw and rough and controversial. (At times even the characters acknowledge the horrific and debatable nature of their actions.) In less skilled hands, this could have come across as cynical and manipulative material, but Pollono is such a skilled wordsmith and the cast is so universally excellent, “Small Engine Repair” becomes a viewing experience you won’t easily shake off, not today and not for a long time.

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Moon Alert

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions. The moon is in Libra.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

Today you might seek out someone older or more experienced to benefit from their advice. In fact, this is a very good day for warm conversations with others. Possibly, this person is a member of a group or a professional association? (We all need all the help we can get.)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

You’re ready to work hard. In fact, you’re willing to put your comfort second to the duties and obligations that you have. Obviously, this means you will accomplish a lot today. Fortunately, coworkers will help you. You will likely be very hands-on in whatever you do.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

This is a good day to teach children or young minds. It’s also a good day to hone a skill or practice something so that you get better and better — perhaps in the arts or perhaps in sports. You’re also willing to do the necessary leg work in making plans for future socializing or vacations.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

This will be a practical day for you because you’re ready to be sort of tough and do whatever is necessary to get the job done. Quite likely, an important discussion with an older family relative (perhaps a parent) will take place. Of course, you’re interested in redecorating and doing home repairs.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

Today you are in a serious but commonsense frame of mind, which means discussions with others will be about practical matters. You might want to teach something important to someone? You will also be willing to study something with focus and application.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

When it comes to financial matters today, you will be conservative, and play it safe. For example, if shopping, you will want to buy long-lasting, practical items. You will also be thrifty with your money. You won’t waste it. In fact, this is the perfect time to set up a budget.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

Today the moon is in your sign dancing with stern Saturn, which makes you more sober and realistic about everything in your world. However, it also toughens you up and lets you deal patiently with considerable adversity and strain. This is why you’ll get a lot done today.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

This is an excellent day to do research behind the scenes or do anything that allows you to seek out solutions to old problems or answers to old questions. You will be persevering about going after what you want to learn. You won’t give up.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

Today you will feel less inclined to talk about your feelings. In fact, you might choose to go off by yourself to evaluate and ponder something. However, someone older might offer you emotional support or give you practical suggestions. (Nice.)

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

When dealing with bosses and authority figures today (including parents and the police) you want commonsense answers and a practical approach to things. You’re not interested in fancy psychobabble or tricky talk. You want a doable solution.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

This is an excellent day to study because you want practical results for your efforts. You want to learn something new, and especially, you want to learn something that will be useful for you. History or anything in the past will also have a strong attraction for you.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

This is an excellent day to take care of loose details with banking, taxes, shared property, insurance issues and inheritances. Your mind is focused; furthermore, you have the perseverance and the right headspace to tackle these issues.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actor Martin Freeman (1971) shares your birthday. You are confident and level-headed. People admire you because you are trustworthy, loyal, hard-working and reliable. (Ironically, you are a busy thinker who resists routine.) This year you will build solid foundations in your life both physically as well as intangible structures. This is also a good year to be aware of your health and take care of it.

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Cook County prosecutors contend a Chicago police detective asked them to reject charges against a suspect in the slaying of a 7-year-old girl when they indicated more evidence was needed in the high-profile case because the detective said he “had not seen his family and was tired and was not willing to do any more work on the case,” according to a prosecution memo obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Once the charges were rejected, at least one high-ranking CPD official, in an unusual move, suggested police would circumvent prosecutors and have the suspect charged directly. Police approached a judge to get additional time to do that without prosecutors’ knowledge, according to the memo and sources familiar with the matter.

The dispute and the memo illustrate the ongoing tensions between Chicago police and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. Detectives privately complain prosecutors make unreasonable demands in terms of evidence needed in cases, more than they’ve been ever asked before under previous top prosecutors. Prosecutors, however, contend they are simply requesting evidence needed to meet the high burden of proof.

In early discussions about the slaying of the 7-year-old, Serenity Broughton, prosecutors wanted police to bring in a witness for an additional interview and asked police to hold off on the arrest of a potential suspect as the investigation continued, according to the memo.

But an arrest was made anyway, and detectives went to prosecutors to approve charges.

Prosecutors offered to let police further investigate rather than reject the charges.

However, the detective, who didn’t think a witness could be located, declined that offer, saying he wanted prosecutors to reject charges and he “did not wish to do any more work on the case,” the memo said.

Serenity was killed and her 6-year-old sister, Aubrey Broughton, wounded when shots were fired at a car they were in with their mother in the 6200 block of West Grand Avenue on Aug. 15.

The suspect was sitting in a car that two people were seen running back to after shots were fired that afternoon in Belmont Cragin, but there was no evidence they had been involved in the crime and none of the individuals were seen with weapons, the memo said.

A state’s attorney’s office spokeswoman Monday said charges were rejected because there was insufficient evidence and added, “police agreed with this decision.”

The Sun-Times is not naming the suspect because he hasn’t been charged.

The man was on parole for a 2018 attempted armed robbery conviction but has been released from CPD custody, according to a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Police official asks for ‘favor,’ cites department ‘morale problems’

After the charges were rejected, CPD Cmdr. Eric Winstrom called a prosecutor and asked her “do him a favor and charge the case” because his “team had bad morale problems and [he] will not be able to keep his team together with the rejections that have happened,” the memo said.

Prosecutors again offered to classify the case as a continuing investigation, but Winstrom also rejected that option, saying he would pursue a felony override, the memo said.

Police have a limited amount of time after an arrest before the suspect is charged by prosecutors. Felony override allows police to bypass the state’s attorney’s office and charge a suspect with a felony, but the override is only supposed to be used after police have exhausted all other options of working with prosecutors.

If police did file the charges in Serenity’s murder last week — which apparently never happened — prosecutors had planned to drop the case against the suspect if he appeared at a bond hearing, a prosecution source said.

The memo said Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan Friday also talked with a prosecutor who told Deenihan “what is happening with Area 5 is outrageous and needs to be immediately addressed,” apparently referring to detectives not being willing to continue to investigate cases that prosecutors say don’t meet their burden of proof.

Later Friday, police officials attempted to seek a judge’s order, that if approved, would allow police to hold the suspect longer without charging him and give them time to pursue a felony override, a source said.

Officials with Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans’ office weren’t able to provide additional information Tuesday.

A police spokesman declined to comment on the matter, only saying the murder investigation is ongoing.

“The Chicago Police Department is committed to holding those responsible for the murder of 7-year-old Serenity Broughton, and the wounding of her 6-year-old sister Aubrey, accountable,” the police spokesman said in a statement. “We are working closely on this investigation with the Cook County State’s Attorney to bring forward justice for Serenity, Aubrey, and their family.”

Political pressure to charge heats up

This isn’t the first time Area 5 detectives have had a disagreement over charging suspects with prosecutors from State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s office.

In August, prosecutors refused to charge a suspect in the killing of Chrys Carvajal, a 19-year-old Illinois National Guard soldier shot to death about 1:30 a.m. on July 3 in the 2200 block of North Lockwood Avenue, also in Belmont Cragin.

Police said they identified the vehicle used in the shooting and obtained data putting the suspect’s cellphone in the area of the shooting. The 38-year-old man, a Milwaukee Kings gang member, jumped out of the car and randomly shot Carvajal, police said.

Prosecutors said they rejected filing charges in that case as well because of insufficient evidence.

Police had “the wrong person” identified in that case, according to the memo, which did not include additional information.

Chris Garibay, senior vice commander of American Legion Post 939, speaks during a protest Aug. 13 demanding justice for murder victim Chrys Carvajal.Pat Nabong / Sun-Times file

In both killings, Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) denounced prosecutors’ decisions not to file charges.

“What else do you want? You’re not going to have the person who committed the crime say ‘I did it,'” he said last month of the Carvajal case.

And on Saturday, Villegas tweeted: “This is the 2nd murder case where my community comes forward to provide witnesses and the 2nd time the murderer is released back into the community. Why the hell should they come forward to help if all there [sic] doing is putting themselves at risk now.”

Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) has also been critical of the decision to not approve charges in the cases. In an interview with Fox News, Lopez called the decision to not bring charges “mind-boggling” and “a message telling Chicagoans that … political leadership is not there to hold criminals accountable.”

In a statement Tuesday, Foxx said her office has “an ethical obligation to review the facts, evidence, and law in each case and only bring charges when there is sufficient evidence to support a charge.

“As Cook County State Attorney, and as a mother, I am committed to ensuring justice and accountability on behalf of victims of violent crime, especially children . . . We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners as we work towards justice on behalf of the People of Cook County,” Foxx said.

Contributing: Frank Main, Tom Schuba

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At least three things have been missing from this very good — but not always great — White Sox season.

One: competition in the division. The Indians have been treading water since June. The Tigers and Royals are on the upswing, if “on the upswing” can be defined as no longer being out of games before the end of batting practice. The Twins? Somebody probably should’ve stuck a mirror under their noses months ago.

“Why do you think we haven’t been pushed?” manager Tony La Russa asked a questioner. “We’ve been pushing ourselves.”

Two: a full deck. Due to injuries serious and less so — and all over the roster — the Sox haven’t gotten to play with one yet.

And the third thing missing: winning streaks. What does this Sox team look like when it’s clicking on all cylinders? It’s a trick question because we haven’t seen it. To put that another way: The ragtag Cubs entered Tuesday on a seven-game winning streak — longer than any the Sox have put together in 2021.

Not since the Giants in 2014 has the eventual World Series winner rolled into the playoffs without at least one streak of seven or more wins on its resume. A quirky thing about those dynastic Giants: They didn’t have a single seven-game winning streak when they won it all in 2012 or 2010, either. But every champ since the Giants’ run ended has been streakier — in a good way — than these Sox so far.

Even in a 60-game season last year, the Dodgers crossed the “seven” threshold. (The Sox did, too.) The 2019 Nationals ripped off eight straight to end the regular season, absolutely roaring in. The 2018 Red Sox had nine- and eight-game streaks as part of a blistering 17-2 start. The 2017 Astros and 2016 Cubs went big with 11-gamers (and separate seven-gamers). And the 2015 Royals wasted no time, starting the season 7-0.

What does it all mean? Perhaps nothing bad as far as the Sox postseason hopes are concerned.

“Consistency is the thing that you strive for,” La Russa said, “and we’ve had a consistent mindset.”

Then again, in 2005 the Sox had one seven-game winning streak and — count ’em — three others that were even longer than that. Now that was a team that could get red-hot. This year’s team hasn’t managed that yet. One would like to believe a higher Sox gear actually exists.

JUST SAYIN’

What happened to the Cubs being left for dead, anyway?

Frank Schwindel happened. A 29-year-old rookie with a vacuum cleaner salesman’s name, a big bopper’s game and, yes, even some growing fame happened. Cubs fans are stopping him on the street these days, and it’s no wonder. You can’t spell Schwindel without the “W-I-N.” And to think, the last time I typed that line, I was being a real smart-aleck.

In his first 33 games (123 at-bats) since joining the Cubs at the trade deadline, Schwindel has put up cartoonishly good offensive numbers: 10 homers, 30 RBI and a slash line of .374/.421/.699. By the way, that’s six homers and eight RBI shy of what Kris Bryant, Javy Baez and Anthony Rizzo combined for post-deadline in their first 80 games with their new teams.

“Ridiculous,” acting manager Andy Green said.

“He’s ‘Frank the Tank,’ ” teammate Matt Duffy said.

“It’s the most fun I’ve ever had,” Schwindel said.

Schwindel’s tear is arguably right there with Bryant’s gigantic August in 2016, when he ran away with the NL MVP race. In 27 games that month — the best one of his career — Bryant had 10 homers, 22 RBI and a slash line of .383/.472/.748.

Rizzo’s best month came in 2016, too: eight homers, 21 RBI and a slash line of .378/.467/.744. And the best 123-at-bat stretch of Baez’s career — his monster start in 2018, when he was MVP runner-up — produced 10 homers, 32 RBI and a slash line of .285/.325/.650.

All of which is to say: Schwindel is every bit as good as those guys.

No, not really.

But he’s a hell of a story.

o Is this the year I finally relent and play fantasy football?

Good God, no.

If I want to fantasize about football, I’ll imagine Northwestern didn’t get run over by Michigan State, Illinois didn’t spoof itself by losing to UTSA and Wisconsin, my alma mater, didn’t gag away its opener against Penn State.

o Did you catch what Bears coach Matt Nagy said about how he’ll handle the Andy Dalton-or-Justin Fields decisions going forward?

“If you just keep it super simple and don’t overthink it, [then] it will take care of itself.”

Translation: “Has anybody seen my Magic 8-Ball?”

o You know you’re dying to know.

Rams 23, Bears 16.

Fields starts in Week 3. Bears win seven. See you next year.

And print it.

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Cook County prosecutors contend a Chicago police detective asked them to reject charges against a suspect in the slaying of a 7-year-old girl when they indicated more evidence was needed in the high-profile case because the detective said he “had not seen his family and was tired and was not willing to do any more work on the case,” according to a prosecution memo obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

Once the charges were rejected, at least one high-ranking CPD official, in an unusual move, suggested police would circumvent prosecutors and have the suspect charged directly. Police approached a judge to get additional time to do that without prosecutors’ knowledge, according to the memo and sources families with the matter.

The dispute and the memo illustrate the ongoing tensions between Chicago police and the Cook County state’s attorney’s office. Detectives privately complain prosecutors make unreasonable demands in terms of evidence needed in cases, more than they’ve been ever asked before under previous top prosecutors. Prosecutors, however, contend they are simply requesting evidence needed to meet the high burden of proof.

In early discussions about the slaying of the 7-year-old, Serenity Broughton, prosecutors wanted police to bring in a witness for an additional interview and asked police to hold off on the arrest of a potential suspect as the investigation continued, according to the memo.

But an arrest was made anyway, and detectives went to prosecutors to approve charges.

Prosecutors offered to let police further investigate rather than reject the charges.

However, the detective, who didn’t think a witnesses could be located, declined that offer, saying he wanted prosecutors to reject charges and he “did not wish to do any more work on the case,” the memo said.

Serenity was killed and her 6-year-old sister, Aubrey Broughton, wounded when shots were fired at a car they were in with their mother in the 6200 block of West Grand Avenue on Aug. 15.

The suspect was sitting in a car that two people were seen running back to after shots were fired that afternoon in Belmont Cragin, but there was no evidence they had been involved in the crime and none of the individuals were seen with weapons, the memo said.

A state’s attorney’s office spokeswoman Monday said charges were rejected because there was insufficient evidence and added, “police agreed with this decision.”

The Sun-Times is not naming the suspect because he hasn’t been charged.

The man was on parole for a 2018 attempted armed robbery conviction but has been released from CPD custody, according to a spokeswoman for the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Police official asks for ‘favor,’ cites department ‘morale problems’

After the charges were rejected, CPD Cmdr. Eric Winstrom called a prosecutor and asked her “do him a favor and charge the case” because his “team had bad morale problems and [he] will not be able to keep his team together with the rejections that have happened,” the memo said.

Prosecutors again offered to classify the case as a continuing investigation, but Winstrom also rejected that option, saying he would pursue a felony override, the memo said.

Police have a limited amount of time after an arrest before the suspect is charged by prosecutors. Felony override allows police to bypass the state’s attorney’s office and charge a suspect with a felony, but the override is only supposed to be used after police have exhausted all other options of working with prosecutors.

If police did file the charges in Serenity’s murder last week — which apparently never happened — prosecutors had planned to drop the case against the suspect if he appeared at a bond hearing, a prosecution source said.

The memo said Chief of Detectives Brendan Deenihan Friday also talked with a prosecutor who told Deenihan “what is happening with Area 5 is outrageous and needs to be immediately addressed,” apparently referring to detectives not being willing to continue to investigate cases that prosecutors say don’t meet their burden of proof.

Later Friday, police officials attempted to seek a judge’s order, that if approved, would allow police to hold the suspect longer without charging him and give them time to pursue a felony override, a source said.

Officials with Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans’ office weren’t able to provide additional information Tuesday.

A police spokesman declined to comment on the matter, only saying the murder investigation is ongoing.

“The Chicago Police Department is committed to holding those responsible for the murder of 7-year-old Serenity Broughton, and the wounding of her 6-year-old sister Aubrey, accountable,” the police spokesman said in a statement. “We are working closely on this investigation with the Cook County State’s Attorney to bring forward justice for Serenity, Aubrey, and their family.”

Political pressure to charge heats up

This isn’t the first time Area 5 detectives have had a disagreement over charging suspects with prosecutors from State’s Attorney’s Kim Foxx’s office.

In August, prosecutors refused to charge a suspect in the killing of Chrys Carvajal, a 19-year-old Illinois National Guard soldier shot to death about 1:30 a.m. on July 3 in the 2200 block of North Lockwood Avenue, also in Belmont Cragin.

Police said they identified the vehicle used in the shooting and obtained data putting the suspect’s cellphone in the area of the shooting. The 38-year-old man, a Milwaukee Kings gang member, jumped out of the car and randomly shot Carvajal, police said.

Prosecutors said they rejected filing charges in that case as well because of insufficient evidence.

Police had “the wrong person” identified in that case, according to the memo, which did not include additional information.

Chris Garibay, senior vice commander of American Legion Post 939, speaks during a protest Aug. 13 demanding justice for murder victim Chrys Carvajal.Pat Nabong / Sun-Times file

In both killings, Ald. Gilbert Villegas (36th) denounced prosecutors’ decisions not to file charges.

“What else do you want? You’re not going to have the person who committed the crime say ‘I did it,'” he said last month of the Carvajal case.

And on Saturday, Villegas tweeted: “This is the 2nd murder case where my community comes forward to provide witnesses and the 2nd time the murderer is released back into the community. Why the hell should they come forward to help if all there [sic] doing is putting themselves at risk now.”

Ald. Ray Lopez (15th) has also been critical of the decision to not approve charges in the cases. In an interview with Fox News, Lopez called the decision to not bring charges “mind-boggling” and “a message telling Chicagoans that … political leadership is not there to hold criminals accountable.”

In a statement Tuesday, Foxx said her office has “an ethical obligation to review the facts, evidence, and law in each case and only bring charges when there is sufficient evidence to support a charge.

“As Cook County State Attorney, and as a mother, I am committed to ensuring justice and accountability on behalf of victims of violent crime, especially children . . . We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners as we work towards justice on behalf of the People of Cook County,” Foxx said.

Contributing: Frank Main, Tom Schuba

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The hope for fall Chinook on shore around southern Lake Michigan leads this sprawling raw-file Midwest Fishing Report, but there are plenty of fish on inland waters getting prepared for fall patterns.

Brad Wooten emailed the photo above and this:

Hi, Dale.

Went out to the Fox River Labor Day evening and caught this chunky 4lb., 21.5 in. Walleye on a swimbait.

Thought I’d submit for FOTW, or if nothing else to send encouragement for the upcoming Fall bite for walleye on the Fox River.

Best Always,

Brad Wooten

LAKEFRONT SALMON/TROUT ON SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN

It’s the beginnings for shoreline and tributary fishing for fall kings and some

Ralph Vulpitta Jr. posted that they saw four Chinook caught Sunday night at Belmont.

Steve Palmisano at Henry’s Sports and Bait texted: texted on Friday:

First one [king] we witnessed. Caught by Jesus Maya 13 lb chinook at montrose on a 1 oz moonshine lure at 6:30 am.

Stacey Greene at Park Bait at Montrose Harbor texted that a 14-pound king was caught Monday morning, it has been spotty before than other than the burst the previous weekend.

Dan Leslie at the Salmon Stop in Waukegan said, “Kings are in, early bite (3 a.m. to an hour after sunrise) because of warm water.” If the west winds build and bring in cooler water, it will be an all day bite. It’s a spoon bite, though a few are using live bait under a bobber. Fish color is good, though some are spawned out already. “Seems like a good year for them.” There’s fewer steelhead than recently, but worth trying for them, too.

In Indiana, Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:

Some salmon have starting moving in the tributaries. #3 spinners, spawn sacks and skein are the baits to take.

In Michigan, staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said quick run of kings came in last week for a couple days late at night at St. Joseph pier before the water warmed; a couple steelhead and a few kings ran into the river; at South Haven, a couple kings and a few steelhead were caught off the pier.

ILLINOIS FROG SEASON

Illinois’ bullfrog (only) season runs through Oct. 15. A fishing license is required. “Bullfrogs may be taken by hook and line, gig, pitchfork, spear, bow and arrow, hand, or landing net.” Daily bag limits eight, possession limit 16.

LAKEFRONT PARKING

Chicago Park District’s parking passes for the fisherman’s parking lots at DuSable and Burnham harbors are on sale at Henry’s Sports and Bait in Bridgeport and Park Bait at Montrose Harbor.

Readers suggest SpotHero app downtown. Otherwise, here are some basics: Foster (free street parking or pay lot); Montrose (now a mix of metered and free street parking); Belmont (pay lots on north and south sides); Diversey (pay lot or street parking); DuSable Harbor (pay lot or fisherman’s lot); Northerly Island/Burnham Harbor (meters, pay lot or fisherman’s lot); 31st/Burnham (meter parking between McCormick Place and 31st Street Harbor); Oakwood/39th (meters); 63rd Street/Casino Pier (pay lot); Steelworkers Park (free street parking at east end of 87th); Cal Park (free parking).

AREA LAKES

Ken “Husker” O’Malley with a local largemouth bass.Provided photo

Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed the photo above and this:

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

Area lakes-water temps are starting to decline with the cooler overnight temps. It won’t be long until the fall patterns start.

Until then, bass have been very good during morning hours. At first light, work a top water popper over the top of the weeds. Once the sun starts to rise, work a senko along the outside weedlines. A few cruising bass can also be caught close to shore with long parallel casts.

. . .

TTYL

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

Pete Lamar emailed:

Hi Dale,

Things changed for the better this week. The water is cooling-at least on small ponds, less so on the bigger bodies of water-and the fish seemed to like it. I was targeting bluegills and getting them, but there were some unexpected largemouths as a bonus.

. . .

Pete

The times are changing.

BRAIDWOOD LAKE

Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset.

CHAIN O’LAKES AREA

Art Frisell at Triangle Sports and Marine in Antioch said bluegill are good, running shallower in 5-8 feet, try ice jigs with waxies, spikes or red worms; catfish, as always, are good overall, best on small to medium roaches or crawlers; crappie are fair, try Bluff; walleye are fair, look across main lake flats with slip-bobber or split-shot rigs; muskie are fair on large bucktails or small jerkbait, try Fox Lake.

NOTE: The Fox Lake Youth Fishing Derby is 8 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Sept. 11 at Lakefront Park. Click here for details or call (224) 225-1404.

NOTE: Check updates on water conditions at foxwaterway.com or (847) 587-8540.

NOTE 2: The Stratton Lock and Dam is open 8 a.m. to midnight through Sept. 30.

CHICAGO RIVER

Jeffrey Williams with his heaviest-ever crappie from the Chicago River.Provided

Jeffrey Williams messaged on Monday the photo above of a 1.12-pound crappie and this:

heaviest Crappie i ever caught

crappies and LMB are stacked up, went through 4 dozen minnows in a 6 hr period

Things were so good that he kept a precise tally of all caught.

On the photos above and below, and this:

today was a adventure 14 LMB 7 Crappies A rock bass Catfish and my brother got in a 13 lb carp Also pictured if my bass thumb

Good ole bass thumb.

Jesse Gonzalez with a big Chicago River carp.Provided

DELAVAN LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Delavan Lake Fishing Report 9/6/21 through 9/13/21

With the cooler nights, the water temperature is starting to drop. The fishing remains above average and the boat traffic is below average.

Largemouth bass are starting to move out of their tight summer schools and can be found throughout the weedline in 12-14 ft of water. In the early morning, the top water bite is available and you can also find them casting medium diving crankbaits. The best patterns are chrome/blue or perch for the crankbaits. The best location has been just west of the Yacht Club or by the Browns Channel weedline.

Northern pike action is starting to improve. With the cooler water, the fish are moving into the 12-14 ft depth range. They can be caught on Thill slip bobbers fished with medium suckers or casting white spinner baits. The best location is the Viewcrest Bay or the weed flat by Browns Channel. As the fall progresses, the northern pike action will continue to improve.

Walleye fishing has been slow. There is some action coming from chrome/blue jigging Rapalas in 20-22 ft of water, or lindy rigging jumbo leeches. The best location has been by the concrete point or by Willow point. The walleye bite is always best in the fall, so the cooler nights will help improve the bite in the coming weeks.

Crappie fishing has been above average in the 30-35 ft depth range. They can be caught on slip bobbers and fat head minnows. The fish are in the main lake basin. Look for them by Willow Point or in front of Assembly Park. They are typically soft this time of year, so you want to get them on ice quickly.

Bluegill fishing has been average. The best bite is in the 12-15 ft depth range. The fish are biting on small leaf worms or wax worms fished on an ice jig. The best color is chartreuse or orange. I’ve been catching most of my fish by Del Mar subdivision.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050

DOWNSTATE

POWERTON: Hours are 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. through Sept. 30.

EMIQUON: Access permits and liability waivers are again required. They are available Tuesday to Saturday at Dickson Mounts Museum, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

SHELBYVILLE: Check with Ken Wilson of Lithia Guide Service. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS: Check with Jason Johns of Boneyard Fishing.

HENNEPIN-HOPPER: Closed for the season.

DUPAGE RIVER

Pete Lamar emailed:

Hi Dale,

. . .

The Fox and DuPage are about the same distance for me, but I rarely fish the DuPage. That may change. I was in the area for a social call over the long weekend and stopped to make a few casts. The water was low, crystal clear and surprisingly cold. There must be some ground water entering the river nearby. I hooked a fair number of small fish but didn’t land any. And this was in a heavily utilized area: I was always in sight of other anglers, kayaks, cyclists or hikers. The fishing would probably only improve with some more walking.

Pete

FOX RIVER

Dicky’s Bait Shop in Montgomery reported quite a few people fishing over the weekend, catfish are starting to bite better with the cooler temperatures at night on a wide variety of baits; suckers are back in stock. River remains low, but bite improved.

GENEVA LAKE, WISCONSIN

Dave Duwe emailed:

Lake Geneva Fishing Report 9/06/21 through 9/13/21

Smallmouth bass are still relating to hard bottoms in deep water. The best depth has been 21-25 ft of water. The best locations are by Fontana Beach, Conference Point or by Black Point. I’ve been using nightcrawlers and fat head minnows with equal success. The bigger fish are coming out of slightly deeper water in the 25-28 ft depth range, but the majority are a few feet shallower.

Largemouth bass fishing has been improving. The bass are starting to move into shallower water from their deep summer haunts. Look for the fish in Williams Bay or by Trinkes. The best depth currently is about 14 ft. Use drop shot rigs or Carolina rigged green pumpkin lizards.

Northern Pike action has been almost non-existent this summer and that continues. There are a few fish being caught in the 25-30 ft depth range. Lindy rigs with medium suckers have been producing the most but it’s still not that great of a bite. The northern pike will continue to move shallower as the water cools and the fishing should improve significantly.

Bluegills remain in the deep water locations. Some of the nicest fish I’ve caught in recent years are coming right now. The best depth is 22-25 ft of water. Look for the fish by Fontana Beach or by the Chicago Club. Straight lining leaf worms beneath the boat has been producing most of the fish.

Lake Trout fishing has started to slow with the cooling water. The fish aren’t suspended as much and they are laying close to the bottom making them hard to catch. There are still some people trying for them in the main lake basin.

Good luck and I hope to see you on the water. For guide parties, please call Dave Duwe at 608-883-2050

GREEN LAKE AREA, WISCONSIN

Guide Mike Norris texted the FOTW and emailed this:

Fishing Report – 09/03/2021

Mike Norris

Big Green Lake – Bluegills remain my favorite choice for fishing right now. This year’s crop of gills on Big Green have been phenomenal as I am finding massive schools of gills throughout the lake. I must keep moving around until I locate bigger gills, but once I find them its lights out. I am using a drop shot rig with a half of a red worm threaded onto a small Aberdeen hook. The bonus is the number of smallmouth bass I and my clients are catching while gill fishing. I am also targeting smallmouth bass with a Berkley Max Scent Flat Worm on a drop shot rig.

Fox Lake – The arrival of cooler weather here in south central Wisconsin has cooled the water down on Fox Lake and the largemouth bass and northern pike fishing has picked up. Try Senko’s around rocky shoreline areas. White chatterbaits remain the best choice for northern pike.

To book a guide trip reach out to me via my Facebook page at mike.norris.7773 or email me through my website at www.comecatchsmallmouth.com

GREEN/STURGEON BAYS, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR weekly report.

HEIDECKE LAKE

Open 6 a.m. (6:30 bank fishing) to sunset.

KANKAKEE RIVER

Bob Johnson with an early fall smallmouth bass from the Kankakee River.Provided

Bob Johnson emailed the photos above and below, and this:

Hi Dale -Back to my favorite Midwest body of water fishing for the native smallmouth Bass. The Kankakee river is in good shape with temps falling to 73 in areas and water clarity good out of current slightly stained in other. Fishing the end of summer can be spotty. Numbers are down this time of year however quality fish can be caught by working baits shallow back to deeper water down to 9′ Soft plastics in dark colors worked along with surface lures early. The Pike busted a buzz bait, a pleasant surprise. The smallmouth was 18″ at 3lb.

Bob Johnson with a nice northern pike from the Kankakee River.Provided

Ken “Husker” O’Malley emailed:

Hey Dale,

Here is a recap of this past weeks fishing.

. . .

Kankakee River-river is in perfect wading condition with a slight stain. Smallmouth are good casting lipless crankbaits along current seams and slate flats with larger boulders in faster mover water. Key is to bump the bait off the rocks to draw strikes.

. . .

TTYL

—

Ken “Husker” O’Malley

Husker Outdoors
Waterwerks fishing team

He’s got that right about the wading conditions, at least before the storms blew through this afternoon.

LAKE ERIE

Click here for the Ohio DNR Report.

LAKEFRONT

Lakefront salmon report at the top. Whispers of boaters catching perch, but I can’t get confirmation.

Capt. Bob Poteshman of Confusion Charters said that out of Chicago, there’s lakers in 100-150 with the occasional coho and Chinook; out of North Point, fish–coho, occasional king and steelhead with lakers, here and there–scattered from 110 to 250.

Capt. Scott Wolfe of School of Fish Charters emailed:

Lake trout fishing was again outstanding with limit catches every trip. 110-140 feet using smoke Luhr-Jensen Dodgers and Jimmy Fly Green Guy Mo rigs near the bottom. Warrior spoons in green or Aqua with UV Hey Babe and Green Menace as the best on downriggers 5 – 15 feet off the bottom.

For steelhead, coho and 3 year old kings the key is locating cold currents. Early in the week we had a cold current in 70 to 95 feet. Over Labor Day weekend one was in 140-150 that was holding steelhead and coho. These fish are very inconsistent and moving as the current wanders. Long lines with lead core and coppers with purple or orange Warrior Spoons including Voodoo, Riverside and Orange Killer patterns.

In the harbor no luck for kings yet, but I heard of some steelhead caught casting glow spoons.

Capt. Scott Wolfe

School of Fish Charters/Manipulator
schooloffishcharters.com
630-341-0550

LaSALLE LAKE

Open daily 6 a.m. to sunset. Click here for the preview of prospects.

MADISON LAKES, WISCONSIN

Click here for the update from D&S Bait.

MAZONIA

Both units are open for fishing.

MENOMINEE RIVER, WISCONSIN

Guide Mike Mladenik of bigsmallmouthbass.com emailed:

The topwater bite continued on the Menominee River in August. We had only 4 days this summer that we did not catch smallmouth on topwater! This great topwater bite should continue through mid-September. Lots of quality smallmouth were also caught on Case Magic Stiks rigged with Spearpoint hooks.

The fall bite should be awesome on the river. I still have some prime late September and October dates open so if interested let me know ASAP.

MINNESOTA

Mille Lacs smallmouth bass.Provided by McQuoid’s Inn

Justin Lederer emailed from McQuoid’s Inn in Isle, Minn.:

Justin Lederer checking in from McQuoids Inn Lake Mille Lacs. Here is a report from one of guides Alan the picture is a nice double on one of his recent trips.

The last week has been fantastic on Millelacs. The leadcore bite has stayed consistent for the last week.. Not alot of big fish , but numbers.. The smallie bit has been a little slower, but consistent on big fish.(20’s , 21′ and biggest just touching 21.75″) big girls are starting too put the feed bag on, Sept and early October should be fire for big smallmouth. Not too mention the muskie fishing firing up.. Have a great and safe labor day and tight lines !!!

NORTHERN WISCONSIN

Kurt Justice at Kurt’s Island Sport Shop in Minocqua emailed:

An abbreviated fishing report this week unfortunately.

Labor Day weekend was quieter on the water than most years with wind, rain and clouds not making for an inviting weekend.

Lake surface temps are finally dropping into the mid to upper 60’s. Not seeing a spike in activity yet, but that will be coming soon.

Largemouth Bass, Bluegill and Perch rated good-fair.

Smallmouth Bass and Crappie rated fair.

Walleye, Northern Pike and Musky fair-poor. Did get a report of a Musky on a sucker rig, but for right now top-water lures and large bladed bucktails and spinner baits best.

Will try to update report this week if time allows.

Kurt Justice

Kurt’s Island Sport Shop
Like us on Facebook

NORTHWEST INDIANA

A 27.5-pound Chinook caught on Triplecatch Lake Michigan Sportfishing Charters on Saturday.Provided from Facebook

Capt. Rich Sleziak at Slez’s Bait in Lake Station texted:

Action out of burns ditch for kings and a few coho early in the am best using plugs and magnum moonshine glow spoons

Some good kings have been caught out of burns ditch last few days in 40ft of water.

Some salmon have starting moving in the tributaries. #3 spinners, spawn sacks and skein are the baits to take.

Crappie at dark on minnows fishing around the bridges on Lake George in Hobart.

Perch action spotty few being caught in Michigan city in 35 to 45ft of water.

Wolf lake both Indiana and Illinois sides giving up some walleye at night using leeches.

Slezs bait is on fall hours now 5am to 6pm everyday.

Christina Petrites at Stan’s Bait & Tackle Center in Hammond emailed:

Hi, Dale! The cooler weather certainly feels nice after that weeks’ long heat wave. We have a couple of hotter days upcoming, including today, but mostly much milder temperatures…& onto the weather’s recent effects on fishing…

Fishing on Lake Michigan has still been consistently good. A lot of King & Coho Salmon have started staging in the river mouths to run the rivers to spawn. Trollers meeting with success are using ace high, moonshine spoons, & j-plugs.

Perch fishing was absolutely excellent last week, with 30-40 FOW being the best depth. Beemoths, smaller minnows, & red worms are all working great.

Walleye fishing remains good on the local rivers & Wolf Lake. Nightcrawlers & the last of the leeches in the area are working wonders.

Inland lakes are starting to heat up with good numbers of Bluegill & Crappie; Willow Slough & Lake George both have good reports of the panfish.

Catfishing is fair-moderate at the moment, with shad, hornworms, & stinkbait finding the largest catches.

ROOT RIVER, WISCONSIN

Click here for the Wisconsin DNR’s report, usually on Tuesday or Wednesday.

SHABBONA LAKE

Concessions are going. Site hours through Oct. 31 are 6 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

SOUTHEAST WISCONSIN LAKEFRONT

Justin Breen with a Chinook 20 pounds on the button.Provided

Justin Breen of Glenview tweeted the photos above and below, and this from a trip with Jackpot Charters out of Racine:

Justin Breen king salmon near Racine on Sept 1 2021 on jackpot charters … captain Harley Goodman and co-captain Kevin Moran officially 20 pounds on the dot

He added:

Chase caught a massive sheepshead

I love that maybe even more than the big Chinook Justin caught and shown below.

Chase with a big freshwater drum.Provided

Click here for the southern Lake Michigan reports from the Wisconsin DNR.

SOUTHWEST MICHIGAN

Staff at Tackle Haven in Benton Harbor said quick run of kings came in last week for a couple days late at night at St. Joseph pier before the water warmed; a few walleye are being caught in the river; a couple steelhead and a few kings ran into the river; at South Haven, a couple kings and a few steelhead were caught off the pier.

Paddle and Pole hosts the Berrien Springs Fish Ladder Camera.

WISCONSIN DELLS

Hook-and-line sturgeon season in Wisconsin runs through Sept. 30. Click here for the details. Click here for the harvest areas. Staff at River’s Edge said no legals were registered; but lots of shorts are being caught.

There’s good smallmouth going, too.

WISCONSIN RIVER

Rob Abouchar with a Labor Day smallmouth bass from the Wisconsin River.Provided

Rob Abouchar emailed the photo above and this:

Hi Dale

Being slightly superstitious I was not talking much about moving so as not to blow the process. It has gone through and I closed on both homes and now reside in Island Lake. Just need to get the rest of my furniture and belongings moved from storage in Elmhurst. Friday night I caught a bass from the back yard as darkness set in. Some fish mean more than others and that one felt special.

I was back on the Wisconsin River Saturday and Sunday chasing after that Muskie on a Senko that got away a few weeks ago. I did not get the muskie but the Pike and Smallmouth Bass were eating the Senko pretty good. Some good bass of all sizes came on a black and blue Senko and a white Senko. All Wacky rigged. Joe got a couple on his Schatzee Chatterbait and Kaitech swim bait. There was a hint of fall in the air and the leaves are turning crimson, orange, and yellow. Already birds are grouping up. Sure signs of the season about to change. We witnessed a Coopers Hawk fly into a massive swarm of Redwing blackbirds; catch one and fly into a tree with it. A stately pair of eagles watched from a distance.

When I returned home to Island Lake in the evening there were nighthawks flying all around the lake and neighborhood. Definitely a sign of change.

Next up on the reggae front is a return to The Tighthead Brewing Company in the old hometown of Mundelein September 25th at the Hoptoberfest. This time with the full reggae band . Should be a grand homecoming of sorts.

Tight lines and good health,

Rob

Reggae update and catching fish from a new backyard? What’s not to like.

WOLF RIVER, WISCONSIN

Guide Bill Stoeger in Fremont texted this on Monday:

River levels are still high, and water temperature is in the mid 60’s. White bass and crappie can be found near current breaks. Some walleye action on crawlers in the Fremont area and near Lake Poygan. Perch are taking minnows and crawlers in Pages Slough

On Sunday, he texted the photo below and this:

Saturday, still going strong .

White bass were still going strong on Saturday on the Wolf River.Provided

Read More

It was supposed to be a joyous day in East Garfield Park, a back-to-school event for children who live in one of the deadliest neighborhoods in Chicago.

Organizers handed out backpacks, popcorn and cotton candy as kids jumped in bouncy houses and danced to local rappers on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

As things were winding down, a red car passed and the small gathering of families was sprayed by bullets. Kids and parents tripped over each as they ran for cover. An 11-year-old boy, his 14-year-old step-sister and one of the rappers were hit.

“They just started shooting and there was just a whole bunch of bullets,” said the 14-year-old, Ayonna Fleming Peterson. “I knew I got hit in the ankle and my first thing, I panicked, I was looking around, looking around for my brother and then I noticed I was hit in my leg too.”

Lamar Peterson said his children are recovering, but that hasn’t dimmed his anger. “They are all traumatized,” he said. “We were just there to spread some love to the community.”

Ayonna Fleming Peterson and her 11-year-old step-brother were among eight children shot over the holiday weekend. Provided by Lamar Fleming

The attack was part of Labor Day weekend violence that punctuated the end of summer in a year that has already seen more shootings than all of 2019.

At least 67 people were shot over the long holiday, including eight children. One of them, a 4-year-old boy named Mychal Moultry Jr., was killed when bullets smashed through a window and hit him in the head as he was getting his hair braided.

For the year, there have been more than 3,100 shooting victims and more than 500 of them have died, according to the city’s most recent data. That’s up from 2,849 shooting victims this time last year and 1,838 this time in 2019. The number for all of 2019 was 2,664.

The worst recent year for gun violence in Chicago was 2016, when there were more than 4,300 shooting victims and more 762 murders – the highest death toll since the mid-1990s.

This year has been particularly deadly for children 15 and younger. The Sun-Times reported in early summer that children were dying from gun violence at a rate three times higher than last year.

The pace continued through the summer, according to a Sun-Times analysis. At least 16 children 15 and younger – 11 boys and five girls – have been shot and killed.

Sun-Times data also shows that city efforts to reduce gun violence in the deadliest neighborhoods have fallen short.

Only five of 15 targeted communities on the West and South sides have seen fewer homicides than this time last year, and only three have had fewer shootings, according to a Sun-Times analysis.

Over the holiday weekend, Mayor Lori Lightfoot promised a new initiative against gang violence but did not disclose any details. However, she promised “there should be no gang member in Chicago who has a comfortable night sleep.”

Chicago police work the scene where 3 people were wounded in a shooting, including a 11-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, outside a Citgo gas station at N. Sacramento Blvd and W. Fulton St. in the East Garfield Park neighborhood, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2021. A back to school picnic was happening at the Citgo when the shooting occurred.Tyler LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Peterson said his intentions Saturday was to do some good and maybe keep kids out of harm’s way. He has hosted at least four backpack giveaways this year in neighborhoods on the South and West sides.

“I was strictly there to bring joy to the community,” said Peterson, who also DJed the event.

The event was held from noon until 3 p.m. Saturday at a gas station parking lot in the 2900 block of West Fulton. Peterson said it was going so well that rapper VT Badboy’ decided to stick around for the kids.

The gunmen in the red car passed by about half an hour later.

“It went from kids jumping with popcorn and moms taking pictures of their kids to fully automatic weapons being fired,” Peterson said. “The kids ran and they tripped over each other and the parents were crawling over the kids — everyone was just running, screaming.”

Peterson’s daughter and stepson were sitting on a go-cart when she was shot in the calf and ankle and he suffered a graze wound to his hip.

“I was passing out popcorn and cotton candy and we started to clean up and I sat down in the go-cart,” Ayonna said. “I got to the car. ‘Daddy I got shot, Daddy I got shot.’ Hopped in the car, both my brothers got in the car and we just rushed to the hospital.”

Both children were treated at Rush University Medical Center and have since been released. “I’m doing a little bit better, there’s times when my leg hurts,” Ayonna said.

The rapper, 25, was shot multiple times and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital in good condition, police said.

Less than hour before the shooting, the rapper posted a video to his Facebook page of him jumping in a bouncy house with a group of kids. The caption read, “This who I do it for.”

Andy Boyle contributed

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