CHICAGO — A boy was shot, a man was stabbed, at least 15 people were arrested, several people were taken to hospitals, and at least two firearms were recovered as hundreds of teenagers overtook Streeterville and parts of the Loop on Friday evening, according to information from Chicago Police Department statements and law enforcement sources.
The mayhem marks the second time that a so-called “teen trend” overtook Streeterville this month. A tourist was shot during the earlier incident on March 9.
CPD brought units from across the city, including officers usually assigned to patrol neighborhoods like Rogers Park and Wicker Park, to handle an estimated 300 teenagers who swarmed the downtown area as the sun set Friday.
In one of the first major incidents of the night, an 18-year-old man was stabbed during an altercation inside a store in the 100 block of North State around 8:45 p.m., CPD said. The argument escalated, and one of the men pulled out a knife, which he used to stab the other man in the back. Police said the victim was in fair condition at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Police did not release a description of the suspect.
About an hour later, a 15-year-old boy was shot in the 400 block of North Cityfront Plaza, directly in front of NBC Tower.
According to CPD, officers heard shots fired around 9:41 p.m. and saw a large group of people running from the area.
Video recorded from a nearby high-rise showed dozens of people running from behind NBC Tower and onto Columbus Drive and North Water Street after the shooting. Watch:
This was the moment a 15 year old was shot, Illinois/North Water St. Approx 9:40pm. 150+ teens congregating. ? Streeterville. 3/28. #ChicagoScanner @SPOTNEWSonIG @ChicagosMayor pic.twitter.com/sJPqK5hAHb
— Lukasz Dusza (@DuszaLukasz) March 29, 2025
The cops found the boy with a graze wound to his leg. He was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital in good condition.
Officers found a single shell casing on the corner of Columbus and North Water, across from the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk Hotel.
For well over an hour, police and 911 callers reported widespread disturbances and fights, with most of the action concentrated in Streeterville.
During one clash, people broke out Tasers, which they applied liberally to each other. A nearby resident captured part of that incident on video:
Teens tasing each other. Illinois / Columbus. This is @ChicagosMayor’s kind of town. #ChicagoScanner pic.twitter.com/qEILxudv8Y
— Lukasz Dusza (@DuszaLukasz) March 29, 2025
Earlier this month, a 46-year-old woman from out of town was shot while walking with her 11-year-old son near the corner of Columbus Drive and Illinois Street, about a block from where last night’s shooting occurred.
Police said a bullet fired during a “teen trend” traveled down the street and struck the woman in her arm. Detectives released surveillance images of four suspects they want to speak to about the shooting. So far, though, no arrests have been announced.
Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), who represents most of Streeterville, called for an 8 p.m. curfew for juveniles after previous “trends.” He renewed his efforts after the March 9 shooting, but Mayor Brandon Johnson dismissed the idea.
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