Two people were killed after a shooting at Chicago’s Navy Pier, leaving others to seek shelter in bathrooms and cars.
A security guard had found “two shot” with shell casings around them on a loading dock shortly after 1 p.m. on Tuesday. according to the Chicago Sun Times.
Paramedics were then called to the scene, where they found two injured men, ages 47 and 51, outside, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.
Both were then taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries, Chicago Police Chief Jon Hein announced at a news conference.
He said officers are now actively searching for a person of interest, who they described as a disgruntled former employee who fired multiple shots in a “non-public location” near Navy Pier.
A shooting at Chicago’s Navy Pier left two men dead Tuesday afternoon as others sought shelter
“We have identified who we believe is the suspect,” Hein said, “and we hope to have him in custody very soon.”
Scanner traffic obtained by the Sun-Times showed police were looking for a 36-year-old man wearing a white chef’s hat, white chef’s jacket and black pants who walked back onto the pier after the shooting.
Dispatchers said he was seen on video at 1:21 p.m. but may have changed into a black North Face sweater, white or beige pants and was wearing a black beanie.
Police now say they believe the suspect was an employee of one of the tourist destination’s restaurants, who was fired on October 14 but still had access to an administration office.
Court records obtained by CWB Chicago show that the suspect was previously convicted of armed robbery in 2008 and that the weapons charge was dropped in 2017.
Chicago Police Chief Jon Hein said officers are “actively searching” for a person of interest in the case
Police in tactical gear were seen roaming the area around 2 p.m., while Navy Pier officials asked everyone there to take shelter until the all clear.
A tactical team wearing body armor and carrying assault rifles was later seen searching an area of dumpsters and then entering a garage.
The men, whose names have not yet been released, worked for a subcontractor in the area.
But police say they do not believe members of the public were ever in danger, and Navy Pier has since reopened.
This is a current news item and will be updated.