Detectives have taken a person of interest into custody in connection with a "minor explosion" that took place in the bathroom of a Target in north suburban Evanston, police confirmed Thursday.
A 44-year-old woman was taken into custody, according to a release from the Evanston Police Department. No charges have been filed, authorities said, and the investigation is ongoing.
Authorities responded to the explosion around 4 p.m. Wednesday in the bathroom of a Target in the 2200 block of N Howard St. It involved a plastic water bottle, police said, and even though no injuries were reported, shoppers were shaken up.
"It's scary," said Bobbi Santo who was at the Evanston Target on Wednesday. "I think it's just a new wave of behavior that's being executed by people who have no rearing or morality."
Damage was contained to the one bathroom, according to police, and the cause of the explosion was unknown. Police and fire personnel, as well as the Cook County Bomb Squad, remained on the scene for several hours into the evening, collecting evidence and bringing in bomb-sniffing dogs.
"There were no threats or other suspicious activity prior to, or since the incident occurred," the Evanston Police Department said. Authorities confirmed that detectives are not looking for any additional suspects, and added "there is no indication that the incident is related to any policies that the Target store has in place."
Police did not release the identity of the person of interest, and ask that anyone with further information about the incident call 847-866-5040 or text information to CRIMES (274637) with EPDTIP in the message.
