At least 100 people were arrested in Chicago overnight as looting and violence overtook the streets. Thirteen officers were injured, including a sergeant who was attacked with a bottle, and at least two civilians were shot during the unrest after midnight Sunday, in the early hours of Monday morning, authorities said.
The suspects face several charges, including looting, battery against police and disorderly conduct, authorities said. Investigators are also searching for suspects who fired shots at police, Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said on Monday.
On Sunday night, Chicago’s shopping district, known as the Magnificent Mile, was looted by hundreds of people for five straight hours.
“It wasn’t immediately clear what led to the unrest, which began shortly after midnight, but anti-police graffiti was seen in the area,” the Associated Press reported. “Hours earlier, dozens of people had faced off with police after officers shot and wounded a person Sunday in the city’s Englewood neighborhood, located about 10 miles away.”
On Sunday night, Chicago’s shopping district, known as the Magnificent Mile, was looted by hundreds of people for five straight hours.
“It wasn’t immediately clear what led to the unrest, which began shortly after midnight, but anti-police graffiti was seen in the area,” the Associated Press reported. “Hours earlier, dozens of people had faced off with police after officers shot and wounded a person Sunday in the city’s Englewood neighborhood, located about 10 miles away.”
“In the Sunday shooting in Englewood, police said in a statement that they responded about 2:30 p.m. Sunday to a call about a person with a gun and tried to confront someone matching his description in an alley. He fled from officers on foot and shot at officers, police said,” the AP also noted. “Officers returned fire, wounding him, and a gun was recovered, police said. He was taken to a hospital for treatment and three officers involved also were taken to a hospital for observation, the statement said.”
Deputy Director for News Affairs and Communications at the Chicago Police Department Tom Ahren took to Twitter in the night to share, “Police involved shooting Michigan and Lake. Shots fired at police who returned fire. No officers injured. Unknown at this time if offenders were shot.”
“The looting began shortly after midnight as people darted through broken store windows and doors along Michigan Avenue carrying shopping bags full of merchandise,” The Chicago Tribune reported. “Cars dropped off more people as the crowd grew. At least one U-Haul van was seen pulling up.”
In one incident, officers were arresting a suspect who was seen carrying a cash register he had looted out of a store. As officers were making the arrest, another vehicle passed by the officers and fired shots at the officers, as their vehicle turned the corner, resulting in an exchange in gunfire between officers and the suspects.
Officers shot back, hitting him, the police superintendent said. The man was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center and is expected to survive,
Police will maintain a heavy presence downtown until further notice, he said. Officers will work 12-hour shifts, and days off are canceled, the superintendent said. Downtown access will be restricted from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. until further notice.
There is was no justification for the violence, shootings, looting, and destruction according to Chicago officials and police.
Over the course of the evening, 13 officers were hurt and over 100 people were arrested. Lightfoot finally responded to the looting on Monday morning.
