More than 100 people were arrested and 13 police officers were injured responding to looting and rioting that began in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile shopping district Sunday night and continued into Monday morning.
Chicago Police told ABC News the looting started after police responded to a call about an armed suspect around 2:30 p.m. Sunday and were shot at when they approached the subject. Police returned fire and injured the suspect. After the shooting, false rumors spread that police had shot a child, and Chicago Police Superintendant David Brown said police identified social media posts prompting people to form caravans and loot the shopping district.
“Hundreds of people smashed windows, stole from stores and clashed with police overnight in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile shopping district and other parts of the city’s downtown,” ABC News tweeted.
Hundreds of people smashed windows, stole from stores and clashed with police overnight in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile shopping district and other parts of the city’s downtown. https://t.co/HrDCLtBUXd pic.twitter.com/sanXXVYGx2
— ABC News (@ABC) August 10, 2020
At one point during officers’ response to stop the looting, shots were fired at officers who then returned fire. Chicago police spokesman Tom Ahern said no officers were injured in the shooting incident.
“Police involved shooting Michigan and Lake. Shots fired at police who returned fire. No officers injured. Unknown at this time if offenders were shot,” Ahern said.
Police involved shooting Michigan and Lake. Shots fired at police who returned fire. No officers injured. Unknown at this time if offenders were shot. #ChicagoPolice pic.twitter.com/scVQVmT7YG
— Tom Ahern (@TomAhernCPD) August 10, 2020
“Currently in #Chicago,” one Twitter user posted with live-streamed footage of looters ramming a car into a storefront window to knock out the glass.
Currently in #Chicago 😳😳https://t.co/k1YaHkxcMT pic.twitter.com/EUE59iTn2Y
— ChicagoShadeRoom (@Realchibaby) August 10, 2020
“More video from looting that was happening overnight downtown. This was from outside Macy’s and the horns you hear are not from the traffic backup. It was apparently to warn looters the police were coming. Minutes later, police were there,” WBBM News reporter Bernie Tafoya tweeted.
More video from looting that was happening overnight downtown. This was from outside Macy’s and the horns you hear are not from the traffic backup. It was apparently to warn looters the police were coming. Minutes later, police were there. @WBBMNewsradio #looting #Chicago pic.twitter.com/OSxVDSkh5U
— Bernie Tafoya (@BernieTafoya) August 10, 2020
“This was straight up, felony criminal conduct,” Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said of the incidents. “This was an assault on our city.”
Those arrested face charges including for looting, disorderly conduct and battery against police.
“There’s a car on fire,” another Twitter user posted with video of the burning car.
— sareena✡✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻✊ (@sareena_v) August 10, 2020
CBS Chicago reporter Vi Nguyen tweeted video of bridges being raised to block off traffic into the shopping district. “All bridges up in Chicago to prevent access to downtown.”
All bridges up in Chicago to prevent access to downtown. @cbschicago pic.twitter.com/KutdT8Nbc6
— Vi Nguyen (@ViNguyen) August 10, 2020
“This is the scene this morning in Chicago,” another user tweeted with video of trash strewn about a shopping area parking lot.
This is the scene this morning in Chicago
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) August 10, 2020
Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown police will maintain a heavy presence in downtown Chicago until further notice.
