One dead, 8 wounded in 2 shootings in Chicago’s downtown Loop district, hours after Christmas tree lighting

One person was killed and eight others injured in two shootings Friday evening in downtown Chicago’s Loop neighborhood, just hours after Chicago lit the city’s official Christmas tree a few blocks away in Millennium Park.

Seven teenagers were injured in the first shooting, which police said happened near the intersection of State and Randolph streets, near the Chicago Theater, around 9:50 p.m. local time. Two people were shot, one fatally, in the second shooting near Adams and Dearborn streets about 30 minutes later.

During the first shooting, officers were on patrol and heard shots fired at a large group in the 100 block of North State Street, Chicago police said.

Officers found all seven victims, who were taken to Stroger Hospital and Lurie Children’s Hospital, in fair to good condition. Police said the victims were aged between 13 and 17.

After the second shooting in the 100 block of South Dearborn Street, police found two victims with gunshot wounds. Police said one of the victims was transported to Northwestern Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The second victim, an 18-year-old man, was transported to the same hospital in serious condition with a gunshot wound to the leg.

President Trump used his Truth Social platform Saturday afternoon to address the shootings, alleging there was “massive crime and rioting in the Chicago Loop area” Friday night and saying “several police officers” were “attacked and seriously injured,” although police reported no injuries to officers.

The president also highlighted the decision by Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. opposition has White House efforts send the National Guard in Chicago. The Trump administration said the move was aimed at fighting crime and protecting federal assets and personnel. during the demonstrations because of the administration’s crackdown on immigration.

“Governor Pritzker and Chicago’s low-IQ mayor are refusing federal help for a situation that could be quickly corrected,” Mr. Trump wrote. “People are chanting, BRING TRUMP!!!”

Johnson addressed the shooting during a press conference Saturday, saying these violent rallies cannot continue.

He said the shootings took place despite the additional deployment of police to the area. Johnson said the city was aware of a potential large gathering.

Johnson said 300 additional officers would be deployed Saturday evening ahead of the downtown holiday parade.

“We have too many guns and too many young people who don’t value their lives or the lives of others,” Johnson said.

The shooting took place on a busy night in the Loop, with huge crowds gathering downtown for the Christmas tree lighting at Millennium Park and the first night of Christkindlmarket at Daley Plaza.

Christkindlmarket had just closed for the night at 9 p.m.

Linda Dixon was with a group of people leaving the Chicago Theater when they saw police rushing to the scene.

“We come out of the theater and everyone started running. We almost got run over in the street, because everyone was running around here. I’m not exactly sure what happened,” Dixon said. “It’s very discouraging to see that, you know? During the holidays, everyone wants to party and enjoy the evening, and something like this happens.”

“I just heard a ping and I’m like, ‘Oh, it’s real,'” Moe Akl said. “One guy hit the ground, and then I was like, okay, let’s go.”

This is the second year in a row that police responded to a shooting in the Loop on the first weekend of Christkindlmarket.

On November 23, 2024, the second night of last year’s Christkindlmarket, a woman was injured in a shooting outside the Macy’s department store on State Street.

Police said a 19-year-old woman was walking on the sidewalk near the intersection of State and Washington streets shortly before 9 p.m. when an unknown person fired shots.

The victim was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition.

This shooting also occurred as large holiday crowds gathered downtown for the Magnificent Mile Festival and Parade of Lights on Michigan Avenue, as well as the inaugural Christkindlmarket weekend at Daley Plaza, just one night after the lighting of the city’s official Christmas tree in Millennium Park.

Cook County Crime Stoppers Offers $10,000 Reward to obtain information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to contact Cook County Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-535-STOP (7867) or submit a tip online at www.CPD.com.