A festive evening celebrating the start of the Christmas season in downtown Chicago descended into chaos and violence on Friday night, Nov. 21, when two separate shootings injured at least six people.
The unfortunate incidents took place just hours after the city’s official Christmas tree was lit at Millennium Park.
The events occurred near the Chicago Theater and on Adams and Dearborn streets around 10:00 p.m. (local time), sending crowds into panic and prompting a massive police response.
According to Councilman Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward), the violence unfolded amid a large group of about 300 youths who were “rioting” in the area.
The death toll was confirmed by Chicago Police Department spokesman Tom Ahern, who said the six people are believed to be teenagers or young adults.
The first incident took place near State and Randolph streets around 9:50 pm (local time) and the second occurred about thirty minutes later near Adams Dearborn.
Councilman Hopkins, in a post on
The violence marred a joyous and busy night in the city centre, which had drawn a large cross for the annual lighting of the Christmas tree and the opening of Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza, which had closed at 9:00 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 Macy’s on State Street after the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival.
No arrests have been announced so far and investigations into the incidents remain ongoing.
