Chicago 911 Dispatcher Slams Mayor Lightfoot for 'Blood on Hands' as City Violence Soars

A 911 dispatcher in Chicago blasted Mayor Lori Lightfoot over her handling of the skyrocketing crime in the city.

"In my opinion and fact, the blood is on her hands," Chicago 911 dispatcher Keith A. Thornton, Jr. said during an appearance on Fox & Friends First Tuesday. "Every child and every youth and adult and elderly person that is shot, killed, pulled out of their vehicle because of carjackings with AK-47s, that is on her hands."

Thornton's comments came in response to a question about Lightfoot's request made to the U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to send agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) amid the distribution and possession of illegal guns in the city.

"I know people are scared," the Chicago mayor said during a press conference earlier this month.

Shortly after referencing Lightfoot's request, Fox & Friends First co-host Todd Piro remarked that the mayor previously denied federal assistance from then-President Donald Trump, saying that it "would spell disaster."

Thornton, who said that his comments were his own and had nothing to do with his role as a 911 dispatcher in Chicago, previously shared a Facebook post where he referred to the city as a "death zone."

"If you are a Chicagoan," he said, "living here or doing business here, even just visiting as a tourist here, your safety is compromised and in jeopardy."

According to data from the Chicago Police Department, there have been at least 794 murders this year, which is a 61 percent increase from the number of murders recorded in 2019. Additionally, the data shows that there has been a rise in criminal sexual assault and theft when compared to 2020.

During his appearance on Fox & Friends First, Thornton said the breaking point for him to speak out was "what's taking place every night, every day, every morning, every afternoon."

"It's the crime. It's out of control," he said. "This is by far the absolute worst that it's been where it is affecting every part of the community within Chicago."

Thornton continued: "This is not pointing fingers at anyone personally, it's just speaking out to the public about the individual that they put into office here in Chicago. Do your job, it's not being properly done. You cannot do more with less when it comes to public safety."

Lightfoot has served as the mayor of Chicago since 2019.

Newsweek reached out to Lightfoot's office for comment but did not receive a response in time for publication.