Youth need to be trained on how to respond to life-threatening emergencies they witness

Mourners and supporters gathered for a vigil outside Benito Juarez High School in Pilsen, less than a week after a mass shooting outside the school killed two teenagers and wounded two others on Dec. 19. Nathan Billegas, 14, and Brandon Perez, 15, were killed and two other teens — a boy and a girl, both 15 — were wounded as classes were being dismissed. (Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times)

The recent shooting deaths of two teenage boys outside Benito Juarez High School shook the community. These students’ deaths, and the injury of two others, is yet another example of the disproportionate impact gun violence has on Black and Brown communities.

This tragedy further shook the greater Chicago community as it reminded many CPS students, parents and educators of the loved ones they lost. So far this year, 54 children have been killed by firearm violence, an increase over 49 deaths the previous year.