Man shot while leaving White Palace Grill with DNC attendees inside in Chicago's South Loop
CHICAGO (CBS) — A man was shot multiple times while leaving a diner in Chicago's South Loop early Friday morning. A group of individuals in town for the convention were also inside at the time.
Chicago police said the group, including a state representative from Colorado's 1st district, gathered just before 3 a.m. inside the White Palace Grill at 1159 S. Canal St. after the final night of the DNC. As one man was walking out, someone opened fire. It was later revealed that the shooting stemmed from an argument.
Police blocked the road off at Canal and Roosevelt as they investigated both outside and inside.
Colorado Rep. Javier Mabrey said he and his friends got down under the tables in the restaurant and thought the suspect was going to open fire on everyone inside the restaurant.
"It's indicative of the problem we have in the country with gun violence. I'm wearing a freedom from gun violence pin and I think that's really meaningful," Mabrey said.
The diner reopened Friday morning, and staff were back at work despite broken glass and blood still left at the scene.
A security guard who works at the grill said he was just getting off his shift when this happened. He says a man tried to bring alcohol inside the restaurant when he was turned away, he got into an argument with the security guard at the door — that's when someone opened fire.
He says it happened so quickly he's not sure who opened fire first.
"It was a chill vibe," Denard Alison said. "Everybody coming in, I guess the DNC just ended, so everybody trying to get their last grubs in before they leave and getting on buses and stuff. Everybody was just chilling. It wasn't no rowdiness, none of that."
The victim was struck several times and was taken to Northwestern Hospital in fair condition.
Police say no one is in custody.
