WILLOWBROOK, ILLINOIS — A Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook, a suburb in the south of Chicago, descended into chaos early Sunday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving 20 people injured and one dead, according to fire officials and the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office. The violence began around 12:30 a.m. in a strip mall parking lot on Route 83 near Honeysuckle Rose Lane where a large crowd was gathered.
Witnesses described the horror of hearing continual gunfire, leading to panic and a mad scramble for safety. Among the victims, two were critically injured while others sustained minor “graze wounds.”
The injured were transported to hospitals in three different counties – DuPage, Cook, and Will. Following the shooting, police cordoned off the area and initiated a major investigation. The aftermath revealed a scene strewn with debris.
Eyewitness accounts revealed a harrowing scene, with shots suddenly ringing out, prompting attendees to scatter in all directions. Despite a significant police presence at the entrances, the attackers managed to inflict severe harm.
“We just heard gunshots; at first it was one, but then it was a whole bunch of gunshots. After then we started running like, ‘yo.’ I looked at my friend, and we took off, running like crazy,” witness Zaviar Sheikh said.
As of 9 a.m., a substantial police force remained on the scene, and the investigation was ongoing. The sheriff’s office has urged anyone with information related to the shooting to come forward and contact them at 630-407-2400.
