Children with guns at 8? Chicago reels as kids fuel crime wave; ‘These kids are running wild,’ ex-Guard officer warns

Chicago is facing fresh outrage over its spiraling crime crisis after reports that children as young as 8 years old are now carrying guns and even killing other kids in neighborhood disputes.

Osiris King, a lifelong South Side resident, told Fox News Digital that the city’s crime problem has reached a disturbing new level. “We didn’t play with guns… these kids are carrying guns, like around the age of eight years old. And they’re killing other eight-year-old kids with guns. It’s insane to me,” King said.

The grim picture comes after a deadly Labor Day weekend that saw 32 separate shootings, leaving at least seven people dead and 37 others wounded. Residents say the city feels increasingly unsafe, and many are calling for drastic measures - including deploying the National Guard.

Dennis White, a former Guard officer, argued, “We need about 10,000 police. And if you want mental health, then use resources for that, but these kids are running wild.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson, however, has resisted calls for more police. Pressed by MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough on whether a larger uniformed force could help, Johnson instead pointed to housing and social programs as solutions. That answer drew frustration from residents and aldermen, who say visibility on the streets is what’s missing.

US President Donald Trump has floated sending Guard troops to Chicago after deploying them in Washington, DC Johnson pushed back, calling the idea unconstitutional, while critics countered that the situation has become untenable.

“Innocents are getting hurt every single day… actual children are dying as well, and it is just sad,” resident Vashon Tuncle said.