DOJO – A 14-year-old boy was killed and at least eight others — all teenagers — were wounded in two separate shootings late Friday night in Chicago’s Loop, just blocks from Millennium Park’s official Christmas tree lighting.
The chaos unfolded on one of the busiest holiday nights downtown, with thousands attending the lighting ceremony, Christkindlmarket, and shows at the Chicago Theatre.
What happened in the first shooting?
The first burst of gunfire erupted around 9:50 p.m. near State and Randolph, outside the Chicago Theatre. Police on patrol heard shots as a large crowd scattered.
Seven teens — ages 13 to 17 — were shot.
All were taken to Stroger Hospital or Lurie Children’s Hospital and are listed in fair to good condition.
Officers recovered multiple shell casings but made no immediate arrests.
Second shooting leaves 14-year-old dead
Roughly 45 minutes later, another shooting occurred near Adams and Dearborn — just a few blocks from the first scene.
Two teens, both 18, were shot. One 14-year-old boy later died at Northwestern Hospital from multiple gunshot wounds.
The second victim was hospitalized in serious condition with a leg wound.
Cook County Crime Stoppers has offered a $10,000 reward for information on the shooters.
What officials are saying
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson addressed the violence on Saturday, calling the gatherings “unauthorized” and saying the city had already deployed extra officers in anticipation of large crowds.
“We have too many guns and too many young people who do not value their lives or the lives of others,” Johnson said.
He confirmed 18 arrests were made throughout the night and five guns were recovered — though none tied to the shootings.
Johnson said as many as tens of thousands of people were downtown, making rapid police response difficult.
President Trump weighs in
President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, calling the situation “massive crime and rioting,” and claimed — without confirmation — that police officers were injured.
Chicago police said no officers were harmed.
Trump also criticized Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Mayor Johnson for opposing his efforts to deploy the National Guard in Chicago during federal immigration and crime crackdowns.
Witnesses describe chaos
Holiday crowds were leaving performances and markets when shots rang out.
Linda Dixon, who had just left the Chicago Theatre, said people suddenly started sprinting.
“We almost got knocked into the street… It’s very disheartening. Everyone wants to celebrate the holidays, and something like this happens,” she said.
Another witness, Moe Akl, described hearing “a ping” before seeing someone fall to the ground.
A troubling holiday trend
This marks the second consecutive year a shooting has occurred in the Loop during the opening weekend of Christkindlmarket.
In November 2024, a woman was shot near State and Washington during another large holiday crowd.
Police say the investigation is ongoing. No suspects have been arrested.
