In a shocking spree of violence, downtown Chicago was rattled by a series of armed robberies that occurred in quick succession overnight, resulting in at least eight victims being accosted, and three ending up in the hospital with injuries. According to the Chicago Tribune, the attacks, encompassing both the Loop and North Side, were carried out by assailants using handguns and, in some instances, engaging in brutal physical assaults on the victims.
The violent string began at approximately 12:15 a.m. when two gunmen approached a group of three males in the 500 block of South Racine Avenue, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago. Minutes later, two gunmen attacked a 66-year-old woman, dragging her into the street in the 600 block of North Fairbanks Court. After the assault, the woman was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition, and the criminals fled in a gray sedan—an incident indicative of the night’s brutality.
Subsequent robberies unfolded in swift succession prior to 1 a.m. A man and a woman were robbed at gunpoint in the 200 block of East Randolph Street. "Two robbers exited with handguns and demanded the victims’ property," the Chicago Tribune detailed. Additionally, a violent encounter in the 700 block of South Clark Street left a 46-year-old woman with head injuries after trying to intervene during an attempted robbery.
Another disturbing incident involved a 28-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man who were accosted in the 100 block of East Wacker Drive just before 1 a.m., which ended with both victims hospitalized but listed in good condition. These assaults were among a series of interconnected episodes that have left residents shaken and law enforcement scouring for leads. To date, no suspects have been apprehended in connection to any of the robberies, and Area Three detectives are diligently working on the cases.
Local authorities are calling for anyone with information to come forward as they strive to bring the perpetrators to justice and restore a sense of security to the communities affected by this recent spate of aggressive criminality.
