A dispute between two couples at North Riverside Park Mall resulted in a shooting that left two men injured on Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Joseph Mengoni confirmed, the altercation took place inside the mall, where increased security measures have been implemented, including the hiring of undercover officers. According to ABC7 Chicago, the incident, which involved gunshots after a physical fight, was responded to by undercover officers believed to be the first on the scene.
The shooting occurred at approximately 5:20 p.m. in the 7500 block of Cermak Road, triggering a mass panic among shoppers and employees, though village officials later clarified that it was not an active shooter situation, North Riverside officials made a statement on social media urging the public to avoid the area. The two men injured were taken to a local hospital where they were reported to be in stable condition, however, no information about their current health status or the hospital was brought to public attention as confirmed by the Chicago Tribune.
While the shooter has yet to be apprehended, Mayor Mengoni stated that there was no longer any immediate threat to the community; the identity of the shooter remains uncertain, mengoni suggested the individual might be one of the four involved in the altercation. Paulette Jones, a mall employee, expressed her distress to ABC7 Chicago, stating "It triggered off my asthma," and continued with, "I'm just ready to go home," in response to the chaos and her witnessing of the mall's evacuation.
Officials reported that despite the violence and confusion, the mall is expected to resume operations for the holiday hours the following day, the shooter's weapon has not been recovered as of the latest updates, and the investigation remains ongoing with the absence of a description for the suspect. Meanwhile, employees like Rafael Ortiz took quick measures to secure employees and customers, locking the gates and guiding people safely to the back of the store; this account was shared with ABC7 Chicago.
In the aftermath, a heavy police presence was noted in the mall's parking lot, now standing vacant except for the law enforcement vehicles and sections under construction, an indication of the swift response to the day's earlier perilous events.
