A festive evening celebrating the start of the holiday season in downtown Chicago turned chaotic and violent Friday evening, November 21, when two separate shootings injured at least six people.
These unfortunate incidents took place just hours after the city’s official Christmas tree was lit in Millennium Park.
The events occurred near the Chicago Theater and at Adams and Dearborn streets around 10 p.m. (local time), sparking a panicked crowd and prompting a massive police response.
According to Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward), the violence took place amid a large group of approximately 300 minors who were “demonstrating” in the area.
The number of victims was confirmed by Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern, who said the six people were believed to be teenagers or young adults.
The first incident took place near State and Randolph streets around 9:50 p.m. (local time) and the second followed approximately thirty minutes later near Adams Dearborn.
Alderman Hopkins, in a post on
The violence marred an otherwise lively and joyous night downtown, during which a large cross was drawn for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree and the opening of the Christkindlmarket on Daley Plaza, which had closed at 9 p.m.
This is the second year in a row that the holiday weekend has been marked by violence.
On November 23, 2024, a woman was injured in a shooting outside the Macy’s on State Street following the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.
At this time, no arrests have been announced and investigations into the incidents continue.
