One person was shot dead and at least 22 others were injured in the ensuing gunfire during a June Day celebration in Illinois early Sunday morning, authorities said.
The mass shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. in Willowbrook, a suburban town about 20 miles west of Chicago, where a large crowd of young people had gathered for a party in a nearby parking lot. from Route 83, a major state highway. Police patrolling the area were called at the time to respond to another report of a fight nearby. They returned to the meeting after hearing gunshots, the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
According to the sheriff, an unknown number of suspects fired multiple rounds from multiple weapons into the crowd. Earlier Sunday, witnesses told CBS Chicago they recalled hearing 20 to 30 shots fired during the event, which was attended by more than 200 teenagers and young adults. Witnesses and law enforcement said the Juneteenth celebration was peaceful until the shooting began.
“I have kids to come home to. I’m not used to this,” a woman who witnessed the shooting told CBS Chicago. “I didn’t expect it, but you never know. Anything can happen anywhere.”
Another witness recalled hearing numerous gunshots.
“Anything could have happened. It was a lot of people out, we all had a good time, but, you know,” he told the station.
In addition to the bystanders who were shot, several other victims were injured as they tried to flee the scene of the shooting, the sheriff’s office said. The victims are being treated in different hospitals in the area. His condition was unknown at the time of the sheriff’s press release.
Authorities have not identified a suspect or possible motive for the shooting, and details about the people injured in the attack have not been released. The sheriff’s office is investigating, with detectives interviewing victims and witnesses, and reviewing footage from area cameras and witnesses’ cellphones. The area and businesses surrounding the scene of the shooting will remain closed until further notice, the office said.
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