Shooting in River North, Chicago: 4 shot, 1 fatally, outside nightclub, police say
1 person has been arrested and 2 weapons were recovered, CPD said
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Four people were shot, one fatally, outside a River North nightclub early Sunday morning, Chicago police said.
CPD said a group was ejected from Hush Chicago in the 300-block of West Chicago Avenue about 2:10 a.m. That group then became involved in a disturbance outside.
Two people fired shots, and an armed security guard returned fire, police said.
"More than 20 people fighting. One pulled a gun. No description on the offender," a dispatcher said over the police scanner.
A 30-year-old man was shot in the chest and killed, and the 30-year-old security guard was shot in the arm. The security guard is in good condition.
"During that gunfire, an armed security guard of that licensed establishment returned fire. Ultimately the security guard was struck with a non-fatal gunshot wound to the arm," said Deputy Chief Sean Loughran, with the Chicago Police Department.
Another 24-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman took themselves to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
They were both shot in the leg and are in good condition.
Police scanner seemed to indicate there was an exchange of gunfire that continued for a while, even as those who were part of the group got into their vehicles.
"Silver Malibu with Black Escalade were shooting at each other," a dispatcher said.
Officers on the scene applied a tourniquet and performed CPR on the person who later died, but he was pronounced deceased at Northwestern.
CPD said "the loss of life is tragic."
An arrest was made, and two guns were recovered, CPD said.
Chicago Avenue reopened just before 6 a.m.
Hush Chicago is located between the Chicago Avenue Brown Line station and Orleans Street. The club stays open until 5 a.m. on Sunday mornings, according to its website.
The establishment has only been opened a few months, but resident said it has already brought its fair share of issues.
"This one opening up was certainly a challenge. The first opening, a month or so. I know there have been several bars and clubs that have opened and closed here over the years, so this spot hasn't done well for the residents here," said Gregory Clouthier, a nearby resident.
While Clouthier said he and his wife thought they knew what they were signing up for when moving into an area popular for its nightlife, this was not it.
"We did see the victim on the ground here when we looked out from our unit. So yeah, it's scary having a family, having a 10-month-old daughter. It's nerve-wracking knowing that kind of stuff goes on in your neighborhood," he added.
A club representative did not immediately return a request for comment.
River North is in the 18th police district, which has seen a 50% increase in murders, from 8 to 12, over the same period last year, according to police statistics.
Shootings are slightly higher than last year, 43 compared with 41, but significantly higher when compared to years earlier. Shootings in River North are 105% higher than in 2019, and 139% higher than in 2018.
Area Three detectives are handling the incident.
Sun-Times Media contributed to this report.
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