She got here to Chicago final week to attend a college choir convention and luxuriate in some pizza together with her 11-year-old son, however because the Connecticut girl headed to the airport Monday she was bringing house some harrowing reminiscences.
The evening earlier than, the 46-year-old girl was shot whereas strolling together with her son throughout the road from AMC River East 21 in Streeterville, a movie show with a historical past of violence and loitering that has prompted requires higher public security.
“It’s been stunning,” the girl instructed the Solar-Occasions in a short interview as she headed to the airport Monday morning.
“I’m nervous. I’ve been telling myself the identical story time and again,” stated the girl, who requested to not be named.
Second Ward Ald. Brian Hopkins stated the taking pictures was “additional proof” of the necessity for an 8 p.m. curfew for minors downtown.
The taking pictures occurred as the girl and her son completed a pizza dinner and have been strolling again to their resort about 8:10 p.m. Sunday, in response to a police report.
As they waited for a light-weight to alter at Illinois Road and Columbus Drive, she “heard two gunshots and noticed feathers flying round from her coat,” the police report stated. She had been shot in her proper forearm.
The girl and her son ran south throughout the river to Wacker and Columbus drives, the place they requested a passerby for assist. That individual and her son referred to as 911, and he or she was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good situation, police stated.
She instructed the Solar-Occasions she arrived in Chicago together with her son final Wednesday for a college choir convention.
The road in entrance of AMC River East 21 movie show at 322 E. Illinois St in Streeterville, Monday, March 10, 2025. A lady visiting from Connecticut was shot whereas strolling together with her 11-year-old son Sunday evening throughout the road from AMC River East 21.
Anthony Vazquez/Solar-Occasions
Deborah Gershbein, president of the Streeterville Group of Lively Residents, stated the AMC theater has a historical past of loitering. She had coordinated with the Chicago Police Division about addressing the issue of kids hanging out close to the theater,.
“Simply after we assume we’ve it below management with the assistance of 18th District officers, this occurs,” Gershbein stated. “We have now children — juveniles — hanging on the market and inflicting issues. This has been occurring for a while.”
Final June, the Solar-Occasions reported that the theater applied a required guardian coverage for any theatergoer below age 18.
Hopkins had referred to as for an 8 p.m. curfew for minors downtown after a pair was attacked by a gaggle of juveniles close to Grand Avenue and McClurg Courtroom, across the nook from the theater. Police made a present of power the next week, parking a number of squad vehicles exterior the theater.
The Metropolis Council member repeated that decision on Monday.
“It was in an space that was monitored by a robust police presence,” Hopkins stated. “There have been 50 youngsters operating round inflicting bother. That they had gotten kicked out of the AMC foyer earlier. So, we knew they have been there. We have been monitoring them. But, this nonetheless occurred. A struggle broke out. Considered one of ‘em took a gun out of his backpack and fired photographs.”
Hopkins stated the state of affairs requires “a way more critical response” than Mayor Brandon Johnson has been “prepared to provide it up to now” in coping with younger folks gathering downtown.
“When these teen flash mobs kind, the state of affairs can flip immediately — and that’s what occurred right here,” Hopkins stated. “We’d like to have the ability to implement that curfew. Which means taking them into custody and holding them till they’re launched to a accountable grownup.”
AMC didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
In line with the police report, officers responded to a name of photographs fired exterior the AMC River East 21 movie show at 322 E. Illinois St. The officers recovered video footage from the theater’s safety workplace and at the very least six fired shell casings at 342 E. Illinois St., the report stated.
Detectives have been additionally reviewing non-public video footage that confirmed a person firing a gun. He was sporting a purple hooded sweatshirt with black markings on its entrance and on its sleeves, the report stated. The gunman was about 6 toes tall, had lengthy dreadlocks and white and black footwear, the report stated. He fled in an unknown course and was not in custody.
“AMC has to do a greater job, and the mother and father of the youngsters must do a greater job,” Gershbein stated. “That is actually a nasty state of affairs. Folks can’t go to the theater and have a protected time. We welcome everybody to Streeterville — if they’ll behave.”
