DOWNTOWN — Nine teenagers were shot Downtown Friday night, including seven injured in a mass shooting near the Chicago Theater and an additional two people shot, one killed, in a separate incident, police said.
Around 9:50 p.m. Friday, following the annual Christmas tree lighting in Millennium Park, police patrolling the area heard gunfire near a large group of people on the sidewalk adjacent to the Chicago Theater, 175 N. State St., and found seven teenagers injured, police said.
Four of the teenagers injured in the shooting were taken to nearby Lurie Children’s Hospital: a 13-year-old girl shot in her leg listed in fair condition, a 14-year-old boy grazed in his stomach listed in good condition, another 14-year-old boy shot in his leg listed in good condition and a 14-year-old girl shot in her right hip and listed in good condition, police said.
A 15-year-old and a 17-year-old boy were each grazed in their left thighs and both taken to Stroger Hospital in good condition. A 16-year-old boy was shot in the leg and taken to Northwestern Hospital in good condition, police said.
Area detectives are investigating the incident and no one is yet in custody.
The mass shooting occurred directly outside of the ABC-7 offices, with crews hearing gunshots and witnessing several people “down on the ground” in unknown condition, the news outlet reported. A video taken from the office shows several dozen individuals running from gunfire near the theater.
Two more teenagers were shot less than an hour later, around 10:40 p.m., in the 100 block of South Dearborn Street, blocks away from the first shooting. An 18-year-old man was shot multiple times and pronounced dead at Northwestern Hospital, and another 18-year-old man was shot in the leg and taken to Northwestern in serious condition, according to police.
In a post on X, Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd) alleged rioting and looting Downtown and said that several police officers had been injured in the incident. Police would not verify that officers were injured Saturday morning.
300 juveniles rioting in the Loop now, at least 5 victims shot, one critical with life threatening gunshot wound to torso. Multiple police officers attacked and injured with mace and stun guns, at least one PO hospitalized.
— Alderman Hopkins (@AldermanHopkins) November 22, 2025
Friday’s event was similar to previous “teen takeovers” that see large groups of minors gather Downtown, with the events sometimes ending in violence or injury.
During a teen takeover in Streeterville this March, a 15-year-old boy was grazed by a bullet. Earlier that month, also during a large teen gathering, a tourist was hit in her arm by a stray bullet.
Earlier this year, Hopkins championed a “snap curfew” bill that passed through City Council to address the teen takeovers. The bill would have given Chicago police’s Superintendent Larry Snelling the authority to enforce curfews for minors at a moment’s notice. Mayor Brandon Johnson vetoed the measure and an attempt to override the veto failed.
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