1 Killed, 22 Injured In Shooting At Juneteenth Celebration In Willowbrook: Police

WILLOWBROOK, IL — A shooting left one person dead and 22 injured by gunfire overnight after shots rang out at a Juneteenth celebration that drew hundreds to west suburban Willowbrook, according to police.

“A peaceful gathering in celebration of Juneteenth turned suddenly violent last night,” the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Sheriff's spokesman Robert Carroll said authorities were interviewing “persons of interest” in the shooting, the Daily Herald reported.

The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. Sunday, according to police. The event started about 6 p.m. Saturday at the Hinsdale Lake Terrace apartment complex at Honeysuckle Rose Lane and Route 83 in unincorporated DuPage County near Willowbrook, authorities said. In addition to apartments, the intersection is near a strip mall and other businesses.

Police in the area were called away just before the shooting by a 911 report of a nearby fight but heard gunshots and returned to the scene, according to authorities.

"Out of nowhere, there was a major gunfight for like 30 seconds," Bartosz Majerczyk told WLS. "I'd say, 60 plus rounds. You could tell it was two different groups of people shooting at each other."

Police are unsure about the number of shooters, but authorities said multiple rounds from multiple weapons were fired into the crowd, leaving 23 struck. Two of the wounded were in critical condition, CNN reported Sunday morning. Several others were injured trying to flee the area, according to police, who said the victims are being treated at multiple nearby hospitals.

An autopsy for the deceased was set for Monday morning, according to DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen, who said Sunday afternoon that his office was still working to identify the person and notify next of kin.

Detectives are in the process of interviewing the victims and witnesses, and reviewing footage from the area and from cellphones of those in attendance, police said Sunday.

Rick Wagner, who lives nearby, told the Herald there were at least 300 people near the strip mall by 10:30 p.m.

“We’ve had multiple conversations with police" about large groups meeting there, he said to the newspaper.

As of mid-day Sunday, there were no suspects in custody and no known motive, according to police, who said the immediate vicinity of the shooting — including nearby businesses —would remain closed until further notice.

“This is an ongoing investigation and information is very fluid at this time,” police said. “We will release further details as soon as they become available.”

Officials, including President Joe Biden, offered thoughts and condolences in the wake of the shooting.

"The President and First Lady are thinking of those killed and injured in the shooting in Illinois last night," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a tweet. "We have reached out to offer assistance to state and local leaders in the wake of this tragedy at a community Juneteenth celebration."

Gov. JB Pritzker said in a prepared statement that he was closely monitoring the situation.

"Gathering for a holiday celebration should be a joyful occasion, not a time where gunfire erupts and families are forced to run for safety," he said. "As I've said time and time again, gun violence is a public health emergency in this country and I remain committed to banning these dangerous weapons and making our state safer for everyone."

U.S. Rep. Sean Casten, D-District 6, also issued a statement.

“I’m heartbroken to see the news from Willowbrook this morning," he said. "We live in a tragic reality where you cannot go to school, go to the grocery store, go to your place of worship, or celebrate holidays like the Fourth of July or Juneteenth without fear of being shot. Change is needed — we cannot allow this to be the status quo.”

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson gave condolences as well.

"Everyone should be able to gather peacefully without fear, so we must remain committed to addressing gun violence in our city and neighboring communities," he said in a prepared statement issued via Twitter.

Monday is Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Anyone with information about Sunday's attack is asked to call 630-407-2000.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.