People posted to social media that they were locked down inside stores at the mall for the reported shooting. Outside the mall, police cars, fire trucks and ambulances seemed to surround just about every exit.
There was a shooting at Oakbrook Center. The mall is closed as this is an active investigation. One (1) offender is in custody at this time. If you have any information regarding this case, please contact me via e-mail or phone.
RFoltyniewicz@oak-brook.org
(630) 368-8732— Oak Brook Police (@OakBrookPolice) December 24, 2021
Oak Brook police said a security officer working the holiday detail at Nordstrom heard gunshots shortly after 6 p.m. and immediately called in the incident.
Police said two people were exchanging gunfire with each other in a corridor area in the east part of the mall adjacent to the Nordstrom.
Four people were injured by gunfire, police said. One of those people is believed to be one of the suspects involved in the shootout. Police said they believe the other three were either struck by stray bullets or by ricochet gunfire.
All have non-life threatening injuries, police said. They were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
Additionally, a fifth person twisted their ankle fleeing the shooting and was taken for treatment as well.
Another suspect was taken into custody after running into the Nordstrom and attempting to flee, police said.
Police are currently clearing the mall store by store, investigating the possibility that a third suspect may still be at large. Each store will be searched individually before the people inside are released to go home.
At least one weapon was recovered, police said.
Approximately 100 officers from various area law enforcement agencies responded to the mall Thursday night.
A witness told the ABC7 I-Team the shooting started during a confrontation between four men who squared off in an argument with a fifth, single individual.
“I was walking by these guys arguing and it was four versus one,” said the witness, who asked to remain anonymous for their personal safety. “The group of four were like, ‘Show us then, you ain’t got nothin’,’ and then I was like five feet past them and I turned and the guy started shooting at them.”
Despite the initial panic of the shooting, the pervasive mood of the scene after the shooting was calm, with police working methodically and shoppers generally waiting patiently for their turn to leave.
DuPage County board member Pete DiCianni said he was shopping nearby at the time of the shooting and saw the police response. He said he was told by his family who are locked down at the mall that the shooting happened just outside the Nordstrom store at the mall.
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Witnesses said the mall was crowded with last minute Christmas shoppers at the time of the shooting.
WATCH: Witness describes shooting at Oakbrook Center
Family members rushed to the mall to meet their loved ones as soon as the lockdown is lifted, though police have not said how long that will take.
The last time there was a shooting at Oakbrook Center was nine years ago, Oak Brook police said, when a security officer opened fire during a confrontation.
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