On November 12, 2024, Faliang Gao, a 32-year-old resident of Chicago's Chinatown neighborhood, was fatally shot along with another man, Jianru Zheng, 33, in a targeted armed robbery. The incident occurred at approximately 9:56 p.m. in the 2400 block of South Normal Avenue. Police responded to a call for shots fired and found Gao outside the front of the home with multiple gunshot wounds; he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Zheng, who was found at the back of the same house with a gunshot wound to the shoulder, was taken to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries.
The shooting is believed to have taken place inside the home, and police suspect that the incident was related to a targeted robbery, possibly involving drugs. Despite the investigation, no arrests have been made as of the current date, and Area One detectives are still working on the case. The community has expressed significant concern and frustration over the incident, with many residents feeling a heightened sense of fear and calling for increased law enforcement presence in the area.
Alderwoman Nicole Lee, who lives in close proximity to the location of the shooting, has emphasized the need for community vigilance and cooperation with the police. She noted that the absence of ShotSpotter, a gunshot detection technology that was canceled in September, has shifted the reliance to public reporting of crimes. Surveillance video has been shared with the police to aid in the investigation, and door hangers asking for information, including in Mandarin and Cantonese, have been distributed in the area to encourage anonymous tips.
The community reaction has been strong, with many residents and activists expressing a sense of urgency and alarm over the increasing crime rates in Chinatown. Despite a decrease in shootings, other crimes such as robberies, thefts, and car thefts have seen significant increases. Community activists, including Raul Montes Jr., are advocating for federal funding to support violence prevention initiatives and have offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the double murder.
