Teen charged in Loop mass shooting that wounded 7 after tree lighting ceremony, Chicago police say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A 17-year-old boy has been charged in a downtown mass shooting after the Chicago tree lighting ceremony in November, Chicago police said Thursday.

Police said Damaurion Cherry was arrested on Wednesday after being identified as a suspect in the shooting in the 100-block of North State Street, outside the Chicago Theatre, on Nov. 21, 2025. Thousands had been gathered downtown for the tree lighting.

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Police said Cherry fired a gun and shot seven teenagers: a 13-year-old girl, 14-year-old girl, two 14-year-old boys, a 15-year-old boy, a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy.

The teen has also been charged with robbing a 38-year-old man about 90 minutes after the shooting on the South Side.

He has been charged with seven counts of attempted first-degree murder, seven counts of aggravated battery and seven counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm as well as a felony count of armed robbery and a felony count of aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office said the boy, who is being charged as an adult, was already on juvenile probation for a robbery when the mass shooting took place.

Prosecutors say it was his distinct clothes and surveillance video that helped track him down.

Prosecutors say they tracked Cherry's movement before, during and after the shooting through surveillance video from the Chicago Theatre and CTA.

Investigators say there was an argument between two groups before shots rang out.

Prosecutors say Cherry confessed to the shooting.

A judge ordered Cherry to stay behind bars.

The judge said that Cherry's behavior showed a "complete disregard to civil society."

About an hour after the shooting on State Street, two other people were shot in the 100-block of South Dearborn Street, which left 14-year-old Armani Floyd dead. Cherry was not charged in the Dearborn Street shooting.

Prosecutors say Cherry was shot at about two weeks ago in a separate incident that is still under investigation.

He was placed in custody after being released from the hospital Wednesday.

His mother was in court Thursday, but declined to speak to reporters.

Cherry is next due in court Feb. 25.

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