A night of celebration spiraled into panic when two shootings rocked Chicago just hours after the city lit its official Christmas tree.
One person was killed and eight others were wounded on Friday as terrified crowds fled through an area known as The Loop.
The first burst of gunfire erupted around 9.50pm near State and Randolph streets, steps from the Chicago Theatre. Police on patrol heard shots fired into a large group, triggering a stampede.
Seven teens, aged 13 to 17, were hit and rushed to Stroger and Lurie Children’s hospitals in fair to good condition.
Police have not identified a motive, and no arrests have been made.
Barely 30 minutes later and four blocks apart, about a 5 minute walk, panic struck again near Adams and Dearborn.
There, officers found two more victims: an 18-year-old man shot in the leg and another person who later succumbed to their injuries at Northwestern Hospital.
Ald. Brian Hopkins said on X that multiple officers were ‘attacked and injured with mace and stun guns,’ and at least one was hospitalized. Hopkins also noted one gunshot victim suffered a life-threatening torso wound.
The violence unfolded on one of the busiest nights of the season, with thousands packing Millennium Park for the tree lighting and Christkindlmarket’s opening night.
Typical Chicago!!!
Typical …..