Episode 1: After The Gunfire
Former gang members are out on Chicago’s streets trying to slow the relentless violence. A man shot 11 times hides with his kids at home.
Patrick Smith
Reporter, Criminal Justice
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Preview the New Season of the ‘Motive’ Podcast
Chicago gangs: Real people. Real stories. A way forward. The newest season of WBEZ’s ‘Motive’
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How ordinary delays in murder cases leave Chicago families in fear for their lives
Marcos Diaz was murdered on June 25 in Chicago. Witnesses are cooperating with police. But his family is still waiting for justice.
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DEA warns returning college students to be wary of potential fentanyl-laced pills
Federal officials are visiting Chicago-area campuses to spread the word about fake prescription pills that could be deadly.
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A massive influx of federal anti-violence dollars starts to hit the streets of Chicago
The $2 million paid out in June is the first down payment on a pledge to spend $250 million in federal funds on violence prevention.
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Chicago cop who knocked out protester’s tooth resigns
Officer Nicholas Jovanovich previously faced termination for punching teenager Miracle Boyd during a 2020 protest.
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Chicago police make arrest nine months after killing captured on camera
The arrest brings relief to a family that couldn’t understand why police didn’t make an arrest quickly when the evidence was handed to them.
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Fleeing gunfire, Highland Park parade goers found safety in the small businesses along Central Avenue
“I had them all come in, I closed the doors, I turned off the lights” said one store’s manager, of the moments after shots were fired into the crowd.
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Illinois child welfare officials defend leaving kids in jail after release
They say the state lacks resources to house some troubled kids but they’re working to fix the complicated problem.
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A mom and her 10 kids are facing homelessness in a tight rental market after a fire
A June 16 fire forced the Diaz family out of their Little Village apartment. Money for their motel runs out Saturday.
