Two women were injured in a shooting incident that occurred at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday night during a game between the Chicago White Sox and the Oakland Athletics.
According to WLS-TV, the shooting took place in the left field bleachers. A 42-year-old woman was shot in the leg and was immediately transported to the University of Chicago hospital. She is currently in fair condition. Additionally, a 26-year-old woman sustained a graze wound in the abdomen but declined medical attention.
The Chicago Police Department swiftly issued a statement in response to the incident, assuring the public that they had promptly responded to the situation. The statement read, "Upon receiving notification of this incident, CPD responded immediately and deployed additional resources while coordinating with White Sox security to maintain the safety of those who were in attendance or working at the game. At no time was it believed there was an active threat."
The police emphasized that the information provided was preliminary and that the investigation was being conducted by Area One Detectives.
Shortly after the police statement, the White Sox organization released their own statement on X, expressing concern for the injured fans. The statement mentioned that the injuries were non-life threatening and that it was unclear whether the shots were fired from inside or outside the ballpark. The incident is currently being investigated by Area One detectives from the Chicago Police Department. The White Sox also confirmed that the incident did not involve any altercation. They expressed their thoughts for the victims and wished them a speedy recovery.
Eyewitnesses reported that security guards at the game were seen speaking with individuals following the incident. Some attendees speculated that the shooting may have stemmed from an argument between two men, but the police have not confirmed these details.
Despite the incident, the game continued without interruption. However, the post-show concert featuring Vanilla Ice and Tone Loc was canceled due to "technical difficulties." This decision left fans frustrated, as they were looking forward to the performance.
One attendee expressed their disappointment, stating, "There was supposed to be a free concert after the game, they came and announced right after the game that it had been canceled. They didn't give any information. Everyone started booing, going crazy, and saying derogatory things."
The attendee further described the crowd's reaction, saying, "Then about five minutes later they put up a note on the screen saying it was canceled due to technical issues. Everyone booed, no one was leaving. Some people said they should storm the field. Then the whole crowd started chanting, 'Sell the team!'"
In addition to the unfortunate incident, the White Sox suffered a significant 12-4 loss to the Oakland A's during the game.
Login