Dupage Policy Journal

Congressman Sean Casten (D-IL) is being accused of using the Willowbrook mass shooting to score political points against conservatives. 

"Congressman Sean Casten turned this tragedy into a finger pointing blame game at #republicans," Friends of Burr Ridge said on Facebook. “Were there Republicans with guns at the #Juneteenth event that evening?” “When are we going to blame the bad actors?” 

The mass shooting occurred at a party in a parking lot during a Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook. It resulted in one fatality and 22 injuries, Patch reported. Casten, who represents the western suburbs, took to Twitter, questioning how many more lives must be lost before Republicans are willing to take action to save lives. Casten criticized Republicans' opposition to gun regulation following the mass shooting.

According to CBS News Chicago, the crowd at the scene of the shooting consisted of teens and young adults. Police had been monitoring the area since 6 p.m. and had briefly responded to a nearby fight before hearing gunshots and returning to the gathering. An unknown number of suspects fired multiple rounds into the crowd. 

The victims were taken to various hospitals, and the deceased individual was identified as Reggie Meadows, a 31-year-old father and sole caretaker of two children. Witnesses reported a car driving up, with someone from the passenger side opening fire. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown.

"Reggie was not only a loving father but also the sole provider for his two cherished children, RJ and Gabby," a GoFundMe fundraiser for Meadows reads. "His unwavering commitment to their well-being was a testament to his love and dedication. Reggie worked tirelessly to ensure that his children had a stable and nurturing environment, striving to give them the best possible future. However, his sudden departure has left RJ and Gabby without their pillar of strength, facing an uncertain road ahead." 

Gun bans, such as one recently enacted in Illinois, are receiving criticism in D.C. During a hearing on gun manufacturers, House Committee on Oversight and Reform Ranking Member James Comer criticized Democrats for gun control policies that target law-abiding gun owners. He emphasized the Supreme Court's affirmation of the Second Amendment right to self-defense and criticized Democrats for focusing on American companies instead of addressing criminal activity.