Chicago

3 Stabbed, At Least 14 Trampled After Navy Pier Fireworks, Police Say

A fight ensued, Chicago police said, after gang signs were flashed among a group of people near Navy Pier

Editor's note: Chicago Police Supt. Eddie Johnson is expected to answer questions at a 1 p.m. news conference. Watch in the player above.

Three people were stabbed as a result of a fight near Chicago's Navy Pier, and 14 people were injured, many from an unrelated stampede, at the pier following the Fourth of July fireworks show, police said.

A fight ensued at about 10:10 p.m., police said, after gang signs were flashed among a group of people. 

A 14-year-old boy was stabbed in the arm and rib, and a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in the armpit, police said. Both were listed Friday in stable condition.

A 30-year-old man not involved in the fight was stabbed in the face and arm, police said. He couldn't remember any details about the stabbing, according to police, and didn’t see who did it. He also was listed in stable condition.

The incident occurred outside of the secured area of the pier on Thursday night, police said, noting all visitors entering Navy Pier were put through a security screening process before the fireworks show. 

A 16-year-old boy punctured his leg by running into a table, police said, though it wasn't immediately known if he was part of the fight. Police initially thought he also was stabbed.

Around the same time, someone threw what police believed to be firecrackers, sparking a stampede toward the exit that injured at least 13 people. Those involved or injured in the stampede are being asked to contact the Chicago Fire Department, Many of them transported themselves to the hospital.

"We believe someone yelled 'gun,'" Chicago Police Spokesman Rocco Alito said Thursday. "[The victims involved suffered] non-life-threatening injuries." 

An eyewitness spoke to NBC 5's Chris Coffey and described the scene as chaotic, saying that people had "no clue what was going on" and were simply running away. 

"I was walking toward the exit and all of the sudden people were running toward me," he said. "My first instinct was to run away as well. It was just a panic, and everyone went along with it." 

The stabbing three victims were being "uncooperative" with authorities trying to investigate the incident, according to a Chicago police spokesman. 

Chicago police said they are still looking for two male suspects involved in the fight.

Contact Us