A tragic shooting at Chicago’s Navy Pier on Tuesday afternoon claimed the lives of two men in what police believe to be a targeted attack by a disgruntled ex-employee.
Chicago Police Chief of Patrol Jon Hein confirmed that officers responded at 1:18 p.m. to reports of multiple shots fired near the pier’s north side, where vehicles access parking garages. The shooting took place in an administrative office within the pier’s loading dock area.
According to Hein, a former employee allegedly entered the loading dock and opened fire, shooting two men in the head. The victims, identified as 51-year-old Lamont Johnson and 47-year-old Peter Jennings, were rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where they were pronounced dead. Both men worked for a contractor at Navy Pier.
As of Tuesday evening, police continued their search for a person of interest, with Belmont Area detectives remaining on-site to investigate. Navy Pier Chief Operating Officer Brian Murphy, a Chicago Police officer, assured the public that the shooting was an isolated incident confined to a non-public area.
Murphy stated that Navy Pier implemented immediate security protocols, including a shelter-in-place order. After ensuring the suspect had left the premises, Navy Pier reopened, but the police investigation remains active.
Murphy emphasized that authorities never believed there was a broader threat to public safety, noting that the attack seemed targeted. Nevertheless, the shooting prompted Navy Pier to enter a brief lockdown, affecting numerous visitors.
Navy Pier, Illinois’s most-visited tourist destination, was busy with out-of-town families and individuals exploring despite the rainy Election Day weather.
Eyewitnesses described tense moments following the lockdown. Stephanie Knowles, a Navy Pier employee, shared that her manager received an urgent call to initiate lockdown procedures. Knowles and her coworkers sought safety in a storage room until given the all-clear. Visitor Leena Porter recounted seeing a massive police presence and roadblocks around the pier as law enforcement secured the area.
Out-of-town visitors were also affected. Texas visitor Anthony Faulkner recounted being escorted by staff to an office for safety, while Trent Halasek, from Cincinnati, observed SWAT and police officers arriving in tactical gear, initially assuming it was an election-related protest.
Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, now a CBS News political analyst, highlighted the stringent security protocols at Navy Pier, which include extensive surveillance and coordination with law enforcement. Lightfoot noted that the police likely have access to critical security footage, which could assist in locating the suspected shooter.
