CHICAGO (CBS) — A juvenile was taken into custody Sunday on weapons charges following a shooting that injured a young woman outside the Chicago Macy’s flagship store a night earlier amid early holiday festivities.
Police told Ald. William Conway (34th) that a juvenile suspect was in custody Sunday evening and charged with unlawful use of a weapon.
“We need to make sure that we have these events downtown, that police have the staff and resources they need to fight and deter crime,” Conway said Sunday night at the Christmas tree lighting in Greektown. “But I can also say that the police have done an excellent job in this case.”
Meanwhile, despite the chaos that unfolded Saturday night — culminating in the shooting — crowds returned to the Loop on Sunday to take part in all the holiday festivities.
On Saturday, 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 man fired shots. The crime scene was located just outside the Macy’s store at 111 N. State St.
After being injured, the victim came across Macy’s. Video obtained by CBS News Chicago shows the 19-year-old being taken out of the department store on a stretcher.
The woman was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and was last listed in fair condition.
The shooting itself caused panic among the thousands of people who were in the area and taking part in all the holiday festivities – including the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and the parade on Michigan Avenue across the Chicago River – as well as the kickoff for the Christkindlmarket. in Daley Plaza, just a few blocks from the shooting scene.
Several people were seen taking cover behind concrete barricades in Christkindlmarket, and some even ran into nearby businesses. It all happened just steps away from the CBS News Chicago office at 22 W. Washington St., and the station’s cameras caught some of the panic.
Despite the scary moments, the Chicago Loop Alliance — which uses street ambassadors and private security to keep the area safe — has no immediate plans to change security with the holidays in full swing.
“The CPD does have a holiday patrol, so there are officers on bicycles patrolling State Street and other major shopping streets during the holidays – so we feel like we’re well protected,” said Michael Edwards with the Chicago Loop Alliance. . “This was just a random one-time occurrence that this unfortunately happened.”
As of Sunday evening, investigators were still assessing much of the surveillance from the area.
