According to CBS News, Alderman William Conway was informed by the Chicago Police Department (CPD) that the Saturday night shooting occurred when the 19-year-old victim was walking in front of the store on State Street when the unidentified suspect opened fire shortly before 9:00 p.m., striking her.
The suspect reportedly fled on foot following the attack and attempted to board a Chicago Transit Authority train. Police were able to intercept him and made the arrest, recovering the firearm used in the crime.
The wounded victim escaped into the Macy’s store where surveillance footage obtained by the outlet showed her being carried out on a stretcher. She was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition.
CBS reported that people attending the start of the Christkindlmarket in Daley Plaza just blocks away were seen taking cover behind concrete barricades while others fled into nearby businesses. Chicago’s CBS affiliate captured footage of panicked Chicagoans fleeing the area. The panic even extended to the Magnificent Mile Lights Festival and parade on Michigan Avenue across the Chicago River.
Officers told the Alderman that the juvenile taken into custody Sunday was arrested in connection to the incident and has been charged with unlawful use of a weapon.
Speaking at a Christmas tree lighting in Greektown Sunday, Conway told reporters, “We need to make sure that we're having these downtown events, that the police have the staffing and the resources they need to fight and deter crime.”
He credited CPD for handling the attack adding, "I will also say that the police did an excellent job handling this."
Conversely, retired Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel advised that people avoid the area and wrote in a post to X, “Downtown Chicago Holiday Lights Festival. People attending have been attacked, robbed & a woman has been shot outside of Macy's on State Street. Some criticized me for saying to stay away from Chicago due to the violence on @MorningAnswer; forget it; I'm right.”
Michael Edwards of the Chicago Loop Alliance differed, telling CBS, “It's unfortunate that it happened on kind of the kickoff of the holiday season downtown. But it did, and we're doing everything we can to make sure it won't happen again.”Downtown Chicago Holiday Lights Festival. People attending have been attacked, robbed & a woman has been shot outside of Macy's on State Street. Some criticized me for saying to stay away from Chicago due to the violence on @MorningAnswer; forget it; I'm right. @ChicagoContrar1 pic.twitter.com/0f3VELuNKq
— Chief Thomas Weitzel-Retired (@ChiefWeitzel) November 24, 2024
He added that the Alliance utilizes street ambassadors and private security officers to keep the public safe. "The CPD does have a holiday patrol, so there are officers on bikes patrolling up and down State Street and other major retail streets during the holiday season—so we feel like we're well protected," said Edwards. "This was just kind of a random one-off that this unfortunately happened."
