CHICAGO – Two men were shot early Saturday morning in Chicago’s Loop, during the buildup to the annual dyeing of the Chicago River in celebration of the St. Patrick’s Day parade.
The incident occurred in the first block of North Dearborn Street, close to the Goodman Theatre, just a block away from the riverfront where crowds had gathered early in the morning. The shooting took place approximately an hour before the river-dyeing event, and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear.
According to Chicago police, a 58-year-old man was grazed in the arm and transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, while the second victim, a 35-year-old man, arrived at the same hospital with a leg wound. Both men were reported to be in good condition.
Dearborn Street remained closed to traffic and was covered with evidence markers as crowds gathered for the St. Patrick’s Day parade scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. from Balbo and Columbus drives. Police report that no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.
