(CNSNews.com) - Between Friday afternoon and Monday evening, at least 63 people were shot in Chicago, five of them killed, including a 15-year-old girl, the city's NBC-5 television station reported.
Over the same period last year, Chicago recorded 48 shootings, 14 of them fatal; and there were 26 shootings (7 murders) over Memorial Day weekend 2014.
NBC-5 quoted a police official as saying that about 1,500 people are driving the violence, much of it gang-related.
In an attempt to quell the anticipated summertime violence, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel urged Chicago residents, faith and community groups, and businesses to organize citywide anti-violence activities on Friday, May 27, 2016 from 7 to 9 pm.
"Every block, every street, every neighborhood should be involved!" said the mayor's message.
He urged people to organize neighborhood barbeques, walks, clean-ups, prayer groups, and sports activities to show "presence and solidarity" in creating a "safer and more peaceful city."
In the first five months of 2016, at least 1,400 people have been shot in Chicago, according to the The Chicago Tribune tally.