A Rare Pause in the Midnight Rhythm (Image Credits: Cwbchicago.com)
Chicago – The new year arrived with a brief but notable hush over the city’s streets, as police recorded the first shooting incident more than an hour and a half after midnight.
A Rare Pause in the Midnight Rhythm
Residents and authorities alike noted the unusual delay in violence as 2026 began. Typically, Chicago sees its initial shooting reports within minutes of the clock striking twelve, but this time, the city held its breath for 90 minutes. That stretch ended abruptly when a 43-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound outside a South Loop nightclub, marking what investigators now classify as the year’s opening case of gunfire.
Police responded swiftly to the scene near Michigan Avenue, where the victim had been celebrating the holiday. He received medical attention for non-life-threatening injuries, a detail that offered some relief amid the early reports. This incident stood out not just for its timing but for highlighting how even small shifts in patterns can signal broader changes in urban safety dynamics.
Subsequent Incidents Shatter the Quiet
Within hours, the calm gave way to a series of additional shootings, pushing the total number of victims to at least five by early morning. Two separate events unfolded in the South Loop area alone, both involving injuries but no fatalities. One victim, a man in his twenties, sought treatment after being shot in the leg during a brief altercation near a popular bar district…