Tragedy struck during a Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook, Illinois, a Chicago suburb, when one person was killed and at least 20 others shot.
The incident, reported to have taken place at 12:30 a.m. in a strip mall along Route 83 near Honeysuckle Rose Lane, reportedly involved up to 30 shots. According to witness Markeshia Avery, the event was intended to be a celebration, but the crowd of “at least 200 teens and young adults” quickly dropped to the ground when the gunfire began. Craig Lotcie and Zaviar Sheikh, who were also present, testified to hearing the shots and then running away in panic.
Eric Swanson, deputy chief of the DuPage County sheriff’s office, reported that two of the people shot are currently in critical condition, while the other victims sustained minor injuries. Swanson also mentioned that the motive behind the shooting is unclear at this point. As of Sunday morning, police officers were still at the scene of the crime conducting their investigation.