Jul 4, 2008 9:01 pm US/Central
Greater Police Presence For Friday Fireworks
1 Dead, 3 Injured In Shooting A Few Blocks West Of Grant Park Friday Night
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
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People ducked for cover between police squad cars after shots rang out following the Grant Park fireworks show July 3. One man was killed in the shooting and three others were injured.
CBS
Chicago police were out in greater numbers for Friday's Navy Pier fireworks show after four people were shot Thursday night as crowds streamed out of the Grant Park fireworks and Taste of Chicago.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli reports that the stepped up police presence Friday night in the wake of violence that happened last night as hundreds of thousands of people were leaving the fireworks display downtown may be hard to spot, so don't expect to see all of those officers.
On Friday night, at times the number of undercover officers actually outnumbered the uniformed officers patrolling the Taste.
The additional officers were called upon after a 20-year old man was shot to death and several other teens were shot while leaving the Taste.
Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis said undercover officers were to be walking near and among the crowd on the grounds of the Taste and on the downtown streets leading away from it.
It's all about sending a message to Chicagoans.
"We're going to have an even greater police presence tonight," Police Supt. Jody Weis announced Friday afternoon. "We'll have both uniformed officers and officers in a covert status that will mingle with the crowd and provide even greater security."
The officers, Weis said, will attempt to move with packs of people as they leave downtown, which is another change from last night.
"It will be agile. It will be fluid, but we will be where the problems might develop," Weis said.
Jori Hall said she is concerned about her safety.
"Yes, I am, I'm always on my guard," Hall said. "I watch my wallet. That's why I don't carry a purse with me. I keep everything close to my person."
"Many people are asking themselves should they attend this year's Taste," said Supt. Weis. "I would say, without a doubt. 100 percent, yes. I've got family out here."
The shootings happened Thursday night blocks away from the Taste grounds as hundreds of thousands of people headed home. Gunshots killed one young man and injured three others as the crowd flooded out from the Grant Park fireworks show.
As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, at least one shooting happened near Congress Parkway and Dearborn Street, as the crowd poured into the Loop from Grant Park.
Tracking Summer Shootings In ChicagoA man identified as Courtney Thomas, 20, of the 500 block of South Wood Street was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to the chest.
A 17-year-old boy was discovered between Clark and Dearborn streets with a gunshot wound to the arm, and treated and released at Northwestern. A third male victim, 15, suffered a graze wound to the head and was treated and released from Stroger Hospital of Cook County. A fourth victim, also a 15-year-old boy, was treated and released for a gunshot would to the buttocks, police said.
One million people were trying to exit Grant Park at the time, and there were reports of shots in the crowd. But mass-chaos ensued when the shots rang out, with pedestrians running and trying to take cover between police squad cars.
A friend of one of the victims described the chaotic scene.
"We just heard gunshots – more than one, and he started to run, and he was running; he got lost or whatever," said Chaquela Moore. "And I came around the corner – he was laying on the ground shot."
Police chased the offender down and captured him.
"Shots rang out. Police officers on-viewed an offender running, gave chase, and were able to apprehend one offender with a weapon," said Chief of Detectives Thomas Byrne.
On Friday morning, Grant Park visitors were on edge, but trying to keep things in perspective. Kim Dziadosz of Chicago was downtown with her young daughter when the shooting happened.
"My daughter was actually quite nervous; she was in tears, being her age," Dziadosz said.
"To shoot in a crowd like this, you know – you've got kids running around," said Dennis Johnson. "It's basically the kids. They don't have a chance to grow up."
Tourist Terrell Robinson expressed discomfort at the situation.
"I was concerned, especially when it involves my safety. I do want to make it back home, you know," Robinson said. "I didn't come all the way to Chicago to feel like I'm in danger."
Chicago Police keep a high profile at the Taste of Chicago and use cameras and other surveillance equipment to monitor activity, especially when there is a crowd like Thursday night. Police said all of the shootings were gang-related.
The alleged gunman is being held at the Belmont Area Headquarters, 2452 W. Belmont Ave., awaiting charges, and a gun was recovered.
There have been shootings with injuries in the past at the Taste of Chicago, and just last year, a Chicago Police deputy superintendent disarmed the man.
The Mayor's office estimates that 310,000 people turned out today at the Taste of Chicago. The Taste closes at 9:30 p.m. Friday. The Navy Pier fireworks are scheduled to begin at that time. The Taste runs through Sunday.
CBS 2's Mike Puccinelli, Joanie Lum and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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