Two teens were seriously injured in a shooting outside the River Oaks Center in suburban Calumet City on Thursday night, and witnesses are recounting the terrifying scene as gunshots rang out.
The two victims, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old woman, were both seriously hurt when they were struck by gunfire at approximately 6 p.m. Thursday outside of the Macy’s store at the mall. Both were taken to local hospitals, according to authorities.
“I came to the door and just saw the young man laying down, bleeding from the head and trying to get up,” witness Dorothy Williams said.
According to authorities, the shooting was not a random act, and there is no immediate threat to public safety.
Employees of various stores in the mall locked their doors after the shooting until they were given an all-clear by police, and many encouraged customers to remain inside in the minutes after the gunfire rang out.
“I had a customer, and she had a baby with her, and I said ‘ma’am don’t go out the door! Someone just got shot!,’” eyewitness Eva Rosales said.
Witnesses say that a group of teens ran into the mall after the shooting, shouting that someone was shooting at them.
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“We were like ‘okay, something serious is going on here,’” another witness said. “By the time I turned around, managers were closing all the doors.”
Officials say that the mall will be open on Friday, but many employees are unnerved by the events of Thursday night.
“I’m worried,” one said. “Do I want to keep coming just for a job? This is just sad. To know that I can’t come to work and feel safe is the scariest thing ever.”
No suspects are in custody in connection with the shooting, authorities said, and an investigation is ongoing.
