Three shot after gunmen open fire at a funeral banquet in Blue Island

Olivia Stevens, Samantha Moilanen, Daily Southtown (Tinley Park, Ill.)
Updated ·2 min read
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The city of Blue Island said Friday night the Salvation Army banquet facility where three people were injured in a drive-by shooting will not be allowed to reopen until a full security assessment is conducted.

“The city is in communication with the Salvation Army management and no events of any kind will occur at the facility until further notice,” the city said in a statement.

The announcement came hours after multiple gunmen opened fire Friday afternoon at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center during a funeral banquet, officials said.

City Administrator Tom Wogan said shots were fired at 3:30 p.m. at the center, 2900 W. 127th Street. One person was taken into custody Friday for questioning and an active investigation to
identify the vehicle and remaining offenders is ongoing, according to a news release from the village.

Wogan said it was a drive-by shooting with three victims, two receiving minor injuries and one receiving critical care. Blue Island paramedics escorted two victims to nearby hospitals, a third victim was self-admitted to a different hospital, according the news release.

Multiple gunmen shot from a vehicle in front of the building, Wogan said, and someone inside the building who had a concealed carry permit returned fire.

Glenn Holt, who lives down the street from the center, told the Daily Southtown the TLC Learning Center, a day care at 2844 Burr Oak Ave., near the Salvation Army, was locked down immediately after shots were fired.

“It’s just a scary moment, especially after shooters,” Holt said. “The children are fine, but unfortunately, it’s a tragedy that happened as well.”

Wogan said the center was rented for a repast funeral banquet where family members share a meal after the service honoring their deceased loved one.

“It’s certainly not the only violence that this region has seen,” Wogan told reporters. “And it’s always tragic. And it’s always sad when you see these incidents layer on top of each other.”

Wogan said Blue Island police officers, along with members of the Suburban Major Crimes Task Force and Illinois State Police, are assisting with the investigation.