A string of armed robberies sent shockwaves through Chicago's North and Northwest Sides late Thursday, as five businesses fell victim to gun-wielding assailants in just over two hours, according to police statements shared by the Chicago Sun-Times. The series of incidents began around 9:38 p.m., escalating to a potentially deadly confrontation when a liquor store employee traded gunfire with a robber.

The criminals, described as two or three men equipped with handguns, reportedly targeted various eateries and stores, coercing cash from registers and, in some cases, also robbing patrons of their wallets. Specific locations hit by this crime spree, as noted by CBS Chicago, include the 5000 block of North Western Avenue and the 1900 block of West Peterson Avenue, both in stark contrast to 9 p.m.'s late-evening peace.

One escalated confrontation occurred in the West Ridge neighborhood's 7400 block of North Western Avenue, a robbery unfolding just after 11 p.m. at a liquor store. "Three men with guns wearing all black entered the store," said the report, where "one of them fired at the store clerk, who then fired back," leaving a chilling reminder of bullet holes in the store's window. It remains unclear if the robbers managed to flee with any loot or if anyone sustained injuries in the exchange.

The other armed incidents happened within a short time frame and close geographical proximity, over two hours of hurried crime ranging from the 1900 block of West Peterson Avenue to the 5200 block of North Nagel Avenue. Despite the close sequence of events, Chicago police have yet to confirm if the robberies are woven into a singular thread of premeditated malice.

As of now, amidst the unease that grips the affected Chicagoans, no suspects have been detained in connection with the night's terror. Local authorities urge anyone with information to come forward as investigations continue in hopes of bringing the responsible parties to justice and restoring a sense of security to the beleaguered North Side neighborhoods.