Chicago restricted downtown access by raising its bridges early Monday after a night of widespread looting and rioting that led to more the 100 people arrested and at least 13 police officers injured.
The unrest was prompted by a social media post urging people to converge on Chicago’s business district after police shot a man on the South Side around 2:30 p.m. Sunday.
Officers had been responding to a call about a person with a gun in the Englewood neighborhood and tried to confront someone matching the description in an alley. The man fled from officers on foot and shot at them, police said.
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A video posted on Facebook around 6:30 p.m. falsely claimed that officers had shot and killed a 15-year-old boy. The video shows upset residents confronting officers near the scene where officers shot and wounded an adult suspect who they said had fired at them.
The suspect was taken to a hospital for treatment and was expected to recover. Three officers were also taken to a hospital for observation.
Around 12:20 a.m. Monday, hundreds of people descended on downtown Chicago, smashing the windows of businesses, and making off with merchandise, cash machines and whatever else they could carry, police said.
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By morning, the city had raised its bridges across the Chicago River to prevent more unrest. Illinois state police had blocked off some expressway ramps into downtown, while CTA had suspended train and bus services. Access was restored later in the day.
Chicago Police Supt. David Brown told reporters Monday that access to downtown will again be restricted overnight from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.
A similar plan was put in place earlier in the summer, following widespread unrest prompted by the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in late May.
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Brown said a heavy police presence will be in downtown Chicago Monday, with officers working 12-hours shifts and no days off “until further notice.”
Brown said the suspect shot by officers had a long criminal history, including arrests for domestic battery and child endangerment. He said a gun was recovered at the scene.
