CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A lawsuit has been filed over a shooting that wounded 15 people at a Halloween party in North Lawndale last year.
The lawsuit alleges that the venue, Studio 1258, on the 1200 block of South Pulaski Road, was unlicensed and that venue and its security company, Fearless Protection, showed a “blatant disregard for public safety.”
“Victims and witnesses did relate that the suspect was ejected from the party, and he came back two minutes later with a gun and began to shoot,” Chicago Police Commander William Bettancourt said at the time of the incident.
A 48-year-old man, William Groves, was identified as the shooter. He was arrested shortly after the shooting. He’s charged with 15 counts of attempted murder.
Nine men and six women were wounded.
Andre Williams, one of the performers at the party, said Groves had argued with security before shooting.
“He came back and put his arm through the door and started shooting,” Williams told Network Video Productions Inc., which shared video of the interview.
The lawsuit also alleges that the venue did not have the proper and necessary licenses to sell alcohol and failed to follow safety protocols.
“I don’t know whether to scream or to cry,” Alderwoman Monique Scott said in October. “We shouldn’t be out here on a Sunday because 15 victims lay in the hospital because they were shot, because someone couldn’t get back into a party.”
The Chicago Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.
Listen to our new podcast Looped In: Chicago
Listen to WBBM Newsradio now on Audacy!
Sign up and follow WBBM Newsradio
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram I TikTok