Lombard Carnival Incident Update
On the evening of Friday, April 14th, Lombard Police responded to a call for a fight in progress at the High Point Shopping Center Carnival. Police arrived on scene in less than two minutes and while on scene, additional reports were received of an individual with a gun and shots fired causing panic among attendees seeking to flee the area or shelter in nearby businesses. A request for mutual aid from surrounding towns was placed which resulted in law enforcement assistance from 14 neighboring jurisdictions.
Officers on scene immediately prioritized securing the area, verifying whether shots were fired, and locating and identifying potential victims and a possible shooter. Additional officers responded to multiple business locations where reports were received of an active shooter, confirmed that no threat was present, and cleared each location. Given the closure of the carnival and the large number of individuals simultaneously fleeing the reported threat, dispersing from the carnival, and sheltering, officers were deployed to secure the scene, establish traffic control, assist and clear locations where individuals were sheltering, locate lost children, speak with witnesses on scene, and respond to additional reports of juveniles causing disturbances at local businesses.
While the police investigation into the events of that evening is ongoing, a summary of the findings thus far follows. After a thorough investigation involving a comprehensive search of the area, witness accounts, review of videos, and communication with nearby hospitals, the Lombard Police Department has found no evidence to support reports of a weapon being discharged at the carnival. In follow-up discussions with area businesses, there have been no reports of any property damage. A local gas station east of the carnival on Roosevelt Road did report a theft of $240 worth of packaged food products. Additionally, police received a report of damage to a vehicle caused by juveniles. The Lombard Fire Department also responded to the scene of the active shooter call but reported no injuries or transports from the scene.
Individuals who were a victim of a crime, businesses affected by this incident, and individuals having information regarding those involved in illegal activity that night, are encouraged to contact the Lombard Police Department at (630) 873-4470 to speak with a detective and provide statements or evidence to assist in the ongoing investigations.
Carnivals are special events that have previously been permitted on private property through independent operators providing their own security. Historically, since 2018, there have been eleven carnivals in total, including nine at this location, for a total of 69 days of operations without incident. However, in light of the events of this past weekend, the Lombard Police Department is working with Village staff to evaluate security requirements at these types of events moving forward and anticipate that additional measures will be implemented to adapt to an ever-changing environment related to public and private events.
Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share via Email
