CHICAGO – It seemed like this year’s Fourth of July might be a relatively peaceful one, but four people were killed and 60 injured throughout the weekend, including two children.

Taniyah Williams, 5,  and her cousin Corey Bondurant, 8, were both shot in a leg while playing with a group of kids on the South Side Monday night. Police say they were among dozens of people outside on the 5500 block of South Hermitage when someone emerged from a gangway and opened fire. Taniyah was released from the hospital but Corey is slated to undergo surgey, although he’s expected to recover. Police say the shooting appeared to be gang-related but it’s not clear who was being targeted.

The two children were among 32 people shot during a surge of violence between 12 p.m. Monday and 3 a.m. Tuesday.

It came after CPD Superintendent Eddie Johnson discussed what seemed to be a decrease in violence as late as Monday. He attributed the change to 88 suspected gang members arrested Friday and 27 on Thursday during police raids. Most were charged with drug and weapons offenses.

But despite a significant police presence there was no stopping dozens of shooting incidents overnight Monday, mainly on the city’s South and West sides. It now seems more people were injured this year than last year, although fewer people were killed.

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