Man sought in shooting at Chicago South Loop diner while DNC attendees were inside
CHICAGO (CBS) — Chicago police have a new lead in a search for the man who shot another man multiple times at a South Loop diner last week.
The shooting happened just before 3 a.m. Friday, Aug. 23, inside the White Palace Grill at 1159 S. Canal St.
The latest surveillance videos from inside the diner at the time of the shooting showed a suspect firing a gun at a man—shooting him multiple times.
The suspect in the video has the word "officer" on his shirt, and he appears to be wearing some type of badge on his hip. It is not known whether he was a security guard, but it is not believed that he was a Chicago Police officer.
Surveillance video also captured a silver Ford Focus pulling away from the scene, heading north.
The incident happened following the last night of the Democratic National Convention with delegates, including Colorado state Rep. Javier Mabrey (D-Denver) and other attendees inside.
"I think about half the restaurant is full of people from the DNC," Mabrey said.
The DNC delegates dove under their tables as she shots rang out.
"All of a sudden we just heard gunshots," Mabrey said, "and they were very, very close."
Mabrey said he heard eight to 10 gunshots.
"All of us got down immediately, under the tables," he said.
Denard Alison, a security guard wo was getting off his shift at the restaurant at the time, said things escalated after a man tried to bring alcohol inside.
"I guess he felt he was being challenged," Alison said, "and you know, being security, we've got to follow the guidelines of the restaurant—and he felt like he could just eff security; he can do what he want to do."
There was a confrontation before the point when the gunshots rang out, Alison said.
"That security guard stepped in told him he couldn't do it," said Alison. "I guess the guy felt some type of way—and he was going back and forth with the security guard."
The victim, a 42-year-old man, was shot several times and was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in fair condition.
Mabrey added that while he was terrified, he does not think shootings are a problem just in Chicago—calling it an American problem.
"It's indictive of the problem that we have in this country of gun violence," Mabrey said early this past Friday morning. "I'm wearing a 'freedom from gun violence' pin, and I think that's really meaningful."
Mabrey added that while he was terrified, he does not think shootings are a problem just in Chicago—calling it an American problem.
"It's indictive of the problem that we have in this country of gun violence," Mabrey said early this past Friday morning. "I'm wearing a 'freedom from gun violence' pin, and I think that's really meaningful."
The suspect was described as a Black man, 25-35 years old, 5 feet 7 inches by 5 feet 11 inches, weighing 150-200 pounds.
At the time of the shooting, he was wearing a blue ball cap, a black t-shirt with "OFFICER" printed in white letters, a black vest, a bronze in color security badge on his right hip, blue jeans with a black and gold stripe along the seam, and white gym shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Area 3 Bureau of Detectives at 312-744-8261. Anonymous tips can be submitted to CPDTIP.com.
An update on the condition of the man who was shot was not available late Wednesday.