Violence Erupts in Chicago’s South Loop, Leaving Two Teenagers Shot and One Dead

CHICAGO (CBS) — Violence marred the streets of Chicago’s South Loop last night as a large group descended upon the area near Roosevelt and Canal, resulting in a tragic incident where two teenagers were shot, one of them fatally.

The aftermath of the shooting has prompted a homicide investigation as police work to uncover the details surrounding the tragic event.

Expressing his dismay over the recurring incidents of teen takeovers in the South Loop, Peter Letsos, the director of operations at White Palace Grill, remarked, “Enough is enough. We need to take action, and we need to do it quickly.”

Letsos highlighted the steps taken by their establishment in response to the violence, stating, “We have security guards on-site every night. We locked the doors for a few hours and restricted access. However, there’s only so much we can do.”

The situation escalated to the point where a heavy police presence was visible in the area around 8 p.m. as a large group of young individuals gathered, eventually leading to violent outbursts.

CBS 2 captured footage showing hundreds of teens flooding the streets, with some individuals being taken into custody by law enforcement. The chaos culminated in a shooting incident at the parking lot of BMO Harris Bank, resulting in the tragic death of 17-year-old Jeremy Smith, who succumbed to gunshot wounds in his chest and neck.

Another victim, a 15-year-old boy, sustained injuries to his leg and was transported to Stroger Hospital in fair condition.

Reflecting on the proximity of the shooting to White Palace Grill, Letsos expressed concerns for the safety of their staff, customers, and the general public, emphasising the need for enhanced security measures.

Saturday’s incident marked the first significant “large group” gathering in the downtown area since July 30, when a similar congregation resulted in widespread looting.

Mayor Brandon Johnson weighed in on the situation, criticising the labelling of the incident as “mob action” and stressing the importance of using appropriate language when describing such events.

As investigations continue, detectives have recovered a firearm from the scene, with uncertainties remaining about potential additional injuries or suspects involved in the shooting.

CBS 2 has reached out to the mayor’s office for comments on the incident but has not received a response as of Sunday evening.