Thomas Statchen
Coverage of Thomas Statchen in the Nexus archive.
- Shootings increased near Chicago’s closed schools that sat empty, study finds
A study found that closing 50 Chicago schools in 2013 led to a 10% increase in gun violence near vacant buildings compared to similar areas without closures. Repurposed school sites did not show significant increases in shootings, but most closed schools remained unused, failing to deliver promised community benefits.
- They Studied Nearly 14,000 People to See How Eviction Rates Are Linked to Gun Violence
A 2025 study linked eviction rates to increased gun violence in Chicago, finding a 1 percent rise in evictions correlated with 2.66 more shootings near residents' homes. Researchers analyzed data from 13,900 people, noting personal eviction experiences were strongly associated with shootings. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently proposed eviction protections, aligning with the study's implications for violence prevention.