12-May-21 – For the third time in less than two weeks, large groups of teens and young adults overran Millennium Park and other parts of the Loop on May 8, according to police and social media. Similar large group incidents unfolded on April 27 and May 1.

Several fights were reported, passersby were battered, a shoplifting mob struck a Walgreens, and police arrested at least one person who was openly carrying a gun. Police officers took several juveniles and at least two adults into custody.

Saturday’s incident began when a group of teens and young adults began fighting in Millennium Park near “The Bean” around 6:37 p.m.

“It has begun,” one officer said upon hearing about the brawl.

At 6:45 p.m., a Chicago Police Department bulletin informed police and city leaders that “approximately 100 teens has gathered in the area of Millennium Park. [Chicago] Park District security is closing the area near The Bean. The group is blocking traffic and fighting.”

One social media video from around that time shows a couple of men running and jumping barricades on the edge of the park near Michigan Avenue. People can be heard screaming in the background. One man falls to the ground and is quickly detained by police for unknown reasons. (Left) A Chicago police officer apprehends a man who was running south through Millennium Park near Michigan Avenue. Video obtained from 16th & 17th District Chicago Police Scanner.

A group of about six young men and women beat a man as they rode a northbound Red Line CTA train near the Harrison station at 7:10 p.m. The victim exited at Jackson and filed a report with officers who were stationed at street level.

Another group of teens conducted a shoplifting raid at Walgreens, 2 North State Street, around 8:00 p.m.

Around the same time, a tourist from suburban Minneapolis recorded a fight outside Primark, 35 North State Street, from his room at the Staypineapple Chicago hotel. Another fight outside Target, 1 South State Street, resulted in an arrest and an ambulance dispatch, according to city records. (Right) Young women fight outside the Primark store on State Street. Frame from video by Joshua Mathiowetz.

A police supervisor warned officers not to leave their CPD vehicles unattended to minimize the risk of them being damaged. Then, shortly after 9:00 p.m., a covert police unit reported seeing someone walk directly past them with a gun in his hand as they sat in an undercover vehicle near Madison & Wabash.

“This kid has a gun in his hand,” the officer radioed. “He’s running through the alley.”

Other officers arrested the man and seized a handgun moments later. The activity slowed as rain moved into the area, but dust-ups continued to be reported until after 10:00 p.m.