Shooting at O’Hare Airport Leaves One Man Wounded

CHICAGO — A man was hospitalized following a shooting outside Terminal 2 at O'Hare International Airport early Wednesday morning, Chicago police reported.

The incident occurred around 12:54 a.m. when a fight broke out among several individuals. During the altercation, a 25-year-old man was shot twice in the lower body. He was immediately transported to Lutheran General Hospital and is currently listed in stable condition, according to police.

Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots. Raquel Barajas, a traveler who was asleep at the time, recounted, “I have no clue how I did not hear this, and when I woke up, I saw all the cops. I was terrified, so I honestly, these ear plugs saved my life. Getting up would have made me more scared and put me in a worse scenario, so I’m just really grateful to be alive right now.”

Another individual, James Van Schaick, who was staying at a nearby hotel, described the chaotic scene. “I heard a bunch of rapid fire,” he said. “I opened up my curtain and looked out. I saw people scattering. Then I heard a bunch of individual pops. I would say half a dozen to a dozen.”

In light of the shooting, police have cordoned off the lower level transportation and baggage area while they conduct their investigation. Officials stated that no other injuries have been reported, and detectives from Area Five are looking into the circumstances surrounding this incident.

Authorities are currently interviewing another individual linked to the altercation. However, details regarding the motive behind the fight and whether the parties involved were known to each other remain undisclosed.

The police scanner account @Chicago_Scanner provided an early update, claiming that the fight escalated near door 2A, with the shooting occurring by door 2C. The account stated there were over 30 shell casings found on the scene.

In a separate but related context, concerns over gun violence persist in Chicago following an unrelated incident where a tourist was shot while walking near an AMC theater downtown on Sunday. The woman’s arm was struck by a stray bullet while she was with her son.

Public outcry regarding these incidents has intensified, with local officials emphasizing the need for greater safety measures to prevent such occurrences in tourist-heavy areas.

The investigation into the O’Hare shooting is ongoing as officials continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.