Chicago breaking news: Holiday, heat bring out violence

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By Deanese Williams-Harris | Tribune reporter
May 31, 2011

    * Six people were killed and at least 21 others were wounded in separate shootings over the Memorial Day holiday and into the night. Police investigate a fatal shooting in the the 6500 block of South Lowe Avenue.

(WGN-Ch. 9)

A man who was killed trying to protect his girlfriend and a 16-year-old girl were among six  people killed and at least 21 others wounded in separate shootings over the Memorial Day holiday and into the night, officials said.

Two of the non-fatal shootings took place at a South Side beach.

The spate of violence came only a day after the redeployment of 500 police officers from two specialized units to high-crime districts, although not all of those officers would have been on duty Monday, said police spokeswoman Lt. Maureen Biggane.

The first slaying happened about 7:49 p.m. on the 7600 block of South Eberhart Avenue in the city's Chatham neighborhood, police said.

Preliminary reports said the victim's girlfriend was being attacked by several females, and when he intervened a group of males approached and shot him several times. He suffered wounds to his head and body, police said.

The man was identified as Lavarro Taylor of the 3500 block of Block Avenue in East Chicago, Ind., according to a spokeswoman for the Cook County medical examiner's office. Taylor was pronounced dead at 8:53 p.m. at Stroger Hospital.

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