(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — DuPage County authorities have identified 31-year-old Reginald Meadows as the person who was fatally shot during a Juneteenth celebration at a suburban Willowbrook mall early Sunday morning.
Meadows, of Willowbrook, was one of at least 23 people who were shot as they gathered in the parking lot of a strip mall at Route 83 and Honeysuckle Rose Lane. The county coroner said he died of a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
In a statement, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office said its investigation into the shooting in Willowbrook has continued “nonstop.”
The sheriff’s office said evidence is still being gathered from vehicles left behind at the scene, potential witnesses and video obtained from nearby businesses. Officials have not released the names, locations, or individual conditions “out of an abundance of caution.”
“We understand and empathize with the media and public in their desire for more information, but we must balance that need with the need to preserve the integrity of our investigation,” said DuPage County sheriff’s spokesman Robert Carroll. “We want to assure everyone that we intend to be fully transparent once our investigation is completed.”
A mother, whose daughter was at the celebration and was injured in the shooting, told WBBM that she heard from her daughter at about 12:45 a.m.
“She said her and her friend had been trampled all over and that they were bleeding, hurt, and that they were on the way to my house — and that somebody was shooting,” Truman said. “They never saw a shooter. They never really saw anything; they just heard a lot of gunshots. They ran. They fell, and then they were literally walked all over.”
Another woman who was at the party said it was a “scene of chaos” as shots rang out.
Following the shooting, Gov. J.B. Pritzker thanked the first responders working the scene and sent his condolences to those impacted by the shooting.
“Gathering for a holiday celebration should be a joyful occasion, not a time where gunfire erupts and families are forced to run for safety,” the governor said. “As I've said time and time again, gun violence is a public health emergency in this country, and I remain committed to banning these dangerous weapons and making our state safer for everyone.”
A vigil is planned to take place at Route 83 and Honeysuckle Rose Lane at 6 p.m. Monday night.
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