At least 100 people were arrested for looting and violence taking over the streets.
At least 100 people were arrested in Chicago last night for looting and violence taking over the streets, injuring several police officers, authorities said.
Thirteen officers were injured, including a sergeant who was attacked with a bottle, and at least two civilians were shot in the riots after midnight Sunday, in the early hours of Monday morning, as hundreds hit the upscale shopping street Magnificent Mile and surrounding areas exaggerated with vandalism and violence, his authorities said.
The suspects face several charges, including looting, battery against police and disorderly conduct, authorities said. Investigators are also looking for suspects who shot at police, Chicago Superintendent of Chicago Police said Monday.
“In one incident, officers arrested a suspect who was seen carrying a cash register he had placed out of a store,” Brown said. “When officers made the arrest, another car went through the officers and fired shots at the officers as their car turned the corner, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between officers and the suspects. A bullet was found. in the cage of the cage police car. ”
The officers were not injured by gunfire.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she has implemented a community protection program – a lockdown with a massive police presence – that “too many days will be in place” until we know our neighborhoods are safe . “
Lightfoot said the criminal activity had nothing to do with “legitimate” organized protests and described it as “an attack on our city.”
“These individuals are engaged in what could only be described as brutal and widespread criminal looting and destruction. To be clear, this had nothing to do with legitimate, protected expression of the First Amendment,” Lightfoot said on Monday.
Investigators said the unrest was sparked Sunday afternoon by inaccurate reports online about an unarmed youth being shot by police in the Englewood area. The shooting victim was actually a 20-year-old man who apparently all opened fire on police while they were being chased, authorities said.
“Tempers fluttered, fueled by misinformation when the afternoon dawned. CPD became aware of several posts on social media encouraging posting,” Brown said. “Officers were sent to our inner city when we once received messages about the posts on social media. Four hundred officers were sent to our inner city.”
Much of the unrest took place along the Magnificent Mile, one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, where looters were seen stuffing cars filled with chain stores full of stolen merchandise and shopping equipment.
ATM machines were compromised, cash registers were stolen and at least one bank was broken into, according to the Chicago Tribune.
City officials said residents expected a heavy police presence in the downtown area until further notice. Lightfoot said the city is still “working on the specifications” of an upcoming lockdown that could include closing some bridges and highways.
“We are currently working on the specifications,” Lightfoot told reporters Monday. “We are looking at the bridges. But we apparently want to make sure that the people who work and live in the city center have easy access to the city center.”
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