A woman from Connecticut and her 11-year-old son had come to Chicago for a school choir conference and to enjoy some pizza. However, their trip took a terrifying turn when she was shot near a movie theater while walking back to their hotel.
The 46-year-old woman, who chose to remain anonymous, was heading to the airport on Monday morning, still shaken by the incident. She recalled the frightening experience, saying, “I keep replaying it in my head. It’s been shocking.”
The shooting happened around 8:10 p.m. Sunday night near the AMC River East 21 movie theater in Streeterville, an area known for loitering and past violence. As the woman and her son waited at a crosswalk at Illinois Street and Columbus Drive, she suddenly heard gunshots and saw feathers from her coat flying in the air. She had been shot in the right forearm.
Panicked, she and her son ran to Wacker and Columbus drives, where they found a passerby who helped them call 911. She was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and is in stable condition.
Streeterville community leaders say the AMC theater has had problems with teenagers gathering in the area. Deborah Gershbein, president of the Streeterville Organization of Active Residents, said that loitering has been an issue for a long time. Even though police have worked to control the situation, incidents like this continue to happen.
Last year, the theater introduced a rule requiring anyone under 18 to be accompanied by a guardian. However, the problem persists.
Alderman Brian Hopkins, who represents the area, has been pushing for an 8 p.m. curfew for minors downtown. He said that just before the shooting, a group of around 50 teenagers had been hanging around the theater. They had been removed from the lobby earlier in the evening, but trouble soon followed. A fight broke out, and one of the teens pulled out a gun and started shooting.
Hopkins believes that stronger action is needed to prevent incidents like this. “These teen flash mobs can turn dangerous in seconds,” he said. “We need to enforce the curfew and hold minors until a responsible adult picks them up.”
Police are reviewing security footage that captured the suspect, described as a tall man with long dreadlocks, wearing a red hoodie with black markings. He fired several shots and then ran away. The suspect is still at large.
Local leaders are urging both AMC and parents to take responsibility to ensure safety in the area. “People should be able to enjoy a movie without fear,” Gershbein said.
