Two people are dead after a shooting at Chicago’s Navy Pier that left others scrambling for shelter in bathrooms and cars.
A security guard had located “two fallen” with bullet casings surrounding them in an area of the loading dock shortly after 1 p.m. 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, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford said.
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, whom they described as a disgruntled former employee who fired multiple shots in a “non-public location” at Navy Pier.
A shooting at Chicago’s Navy Pier left two men dead while others sought shelter Tuesday afternoon.
“We have identified who we believe the suspect is,” Hein said, “and we hope to have him in custody very soon.”
Scanner traffic obtained by the Sun-Times indicated police were searching for a 36-year-old man wearing a white chef’s hat, white chef’s jacket and black pants who returned to the dock after the shooting.
Dispatchers said he was seen on video at 1:21 p.m., but was possibly wearing 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 at one of the tourist destination’s restaurants, who was fired on October 14 but still had access to an administrative office.
Court records obtained by CWB Chicago show the suspect was previously convicted of armed robbery in 2008 and had the firearm charge 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 swarming the area around 2 p.m., while officials at Navy Pier asked everyone present to shelter in place until the all-clear was given.
A tactical team with body armor and rifles was later seen inspecting an area with trash bins 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 don’t believe the public was ever at risk, and Navy Pier has since reopened.
This is breaking news and will be updated.
