Battalion Chief Joe Ostrander with the Tri-State Fire Protection District told ABC 7 Chicago the incident occurred at a strip mall in south suburban Willowbrook early Sunday morning. The location is about 20 miles southwest of Chicago.
One witness said a large number of people gathered at the strip mall for a "Juneteenth celebration." And it was around 1230 am local time when at least 20 had been shot, one fatally.
"It was supposed to be like a Juneteenth celebration; we just started hearing shooting, so we dropped down until they stopped. They just kept going. After that, we literally scattered away," witness Markeshia Avery said.
Another witness said:
"We were all just out, and, next thing you know shots just kept going off; everybody ran, and it was chaos."
Someone else said:
"We just heard gunshots; at first it was one, but then it was a whole bunch of gunshots. After then we started running like, 'yo.' I looked at my friend, and we took off, running like crazy."
While we don't know if the event organizers had a permit or were authorized by the property owner, some on Twitter said it was "an illegal street takeover." Scenes from earlier this morning.
BREAKING: At least 29 people shot at an illegal street takeover in Willowbrook near Chicago, Illinois.pic.twitter.com/5phAPG8C6f
— The Spectator Index (@spectatorindex) June 18, 2023
#Breaking: Reports says that at least 29 people have been shot after gunfire erupted at an illegal street takeover in #Willowbrook near #Chicago, #Illinois. pic.twitter.com/xIbLDAVKCq
— Sotiri Dimpinoudis (@sotiridi) June 18, 2023
These dangerous street takeovers have been popping up across many Democrat-controlled metro areas where progressive city leadership fails to enforce law and order.