CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Two teenagers were shot Saturday night as a crowd gathered in the Loop.
The boys, 16 and 17, were in the crowd about 9 p.m. in the 100 block of East Washington Street when shots were fired, Chicago police said.
The younger boy was shot in the right arm, while the other boy was shot in the left leg, police said.
Both were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where they were listed in fair condition, according to police.
Videos circulating online show people fighting in the streets, climbing on top of a CTA bus, and running after what seems like two gun shots.
Alderman Ray Lopez described it as "chaos on the street" in a tweet shortly after the shooting.
Activists concerned about the safety of their communities gathered Sunday to ask Chicago Police to increase patrols downtown.
“Downtown used to be a beautiful place, you used to want to take a walk downtown, but now it’s so scary,” activist and U.S. Postal Service worker Patrick Gibbons said. “It needs to get better otherwise people will leave Chicago.”
In a statement, Chicago police said that 15 arrests were made and of those arrests, nine were adults and six were minors.
"Last night, CPD responded to several large groups of juveniles and young adults in the downtown district engaging in reckless and disruptive behavior putting themselves and the public at risk for harm."
Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson also offered his thoughts on the incident.
"In no way do I condone the destructive activity we saw in the Loop and lakefront this weekend. It is unacceptable and has no place in our city," he said in a statement.
"However, it is not constructive to demonize youth who have otherwise been starved of opportunities in their own communities."
(Source:Sun-Times Media Wire & Chicago Sun-Times 2023. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Related
Listen to our new podcast Courier Pigeon
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!