A tragic incident unfolded in Chicago on June 18, disrupting a Juneteenth celebration in the Willowbrook area.
During the early hours, at approximately 12:30 AM local time, a mass shooting occurred, leaving a devastating impact.
Shockingly, at least 29 individuals, including two children, were wounded in the shooting.
The unfortunate incident marred the festivities of Juneteenth, a significant holiday that commemorates the abolition of slavery in the United States.
“It was supposed to be like a Juneteenth celebration; we just started hearing shooting, so we dropped down until they stopped. They just kept going. After that, we literally scattered away,” witness Markeshia Avery told ABC7 Chicago. The shooting happened as people were leaving the park.
The victims’ age spanned from 10 to 46 years old. Among them, a 10-year-old boy and a 20-year-old woman were in critical condition, emphasizing the severity of their injuries. The remaining victims received medical treatment for injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
The injured individuals were swiftly transported to four different hospitals, where they are currently being closely monitored and receiving necessary care.
“We were all just out, and, next thing you know, shots just kept going off; everybody ran, and it was chaos,” witness Craig Lotcie told the local news outlet. “I saw that they had cops laid out at all the entrances like that; I just got back home. Now they got the place all taped up,” another witness said.
The police have not yet released any information about the suspects in the shooting. They are asking anyone with information about the shooting to come forward.
This is the latest in a series of mass shootings in Chicago. In recent months, there have been several shootings in the city that have left multiple people injured or dead. The violence has sparked protests and calls for action from city leaders.
The Chicago Police Department is investigating the shooting, and they are asking anyone with information to come forward. They have also increased patrols in the area where the shooting took place.