On Monday morning, the DuPage County Coroner’s Office reported that Reginald Meadows, a 31-year-old resident of Willowbrook, succumbed to a gunshot wound to the abdomen.
The victim’s family, represented by attorney Robert Fakhouri, claimed that the property owner failed to take necessary measures to guarantee the safety of the crowd, leading them to pursue legal action for wrongful death.
Said Fakhouri, “If you are inviting people onto your private property, it is necessary to ensure that you do so safely. This can lead to issues like the one that arose. It is completely unreasonable to not have the appropriate safety measures in place. For example, if there was a specific event in the past where violence occurred, it is important to make sure that you are taking precautions for this gathering, which is the third year they are doing it.” He wasn’t the only one injured in his group of family and friends. He was there with his family and friends. He is a resident of that neighborhood.
On Monday evening, in a strip mall parking lot, 23 shots were fired among Meadows, the father of two, while his friends illuminated candles with his name, symbolizing “long live Reggie.” The parking lot remained blocked off, causing inconvenience to customers.
Fakhouri stated, “There was one thing that occurred, which was that proper security measures and safety measures were not in place to ensure that the gathering was safe, despite the number of people present.”
Investigators characterized the occurrence as a “peaceful Juneteenth assembly on Saturday that escalated into violence.”
People can witness a cover for taking cover and fleeing. A cellphone video captured moments after gunfire was unleashed in the parking lot near Rose Lane and Route 83 in unincorporated Willowbrook, revealing the chaotic scene.
I ended up in the house about 15 minutes later, feeling a little frightened by the loud gunshots I heard. Earlier in the night, I came out and realized that it was because of Juneteenth celebrations in the neighborhood. Jenilynn, a friendly neighbor, mentioned that they had a DJ and a lot of families out enjoying the festivities. It was a good time and the atmosphere was pleasant, especially for me and my children, as we had a great experience here last year.
Deputies from the sheriff’s department in DuPage County indicated that they were monitoring the Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, which began around 6 p.M.
Deputies promptly rushed back when they heard gunshots and quickly called 911 for assistance. People were being trampled as they evaded bullets.
Natalie, a witness, stated, “It felt like there were around 80 gunshots happening almost constantly.” “Essentially, everyone was desperately seeking shelter. There were a few individuals who were struck by other vehicles while attempting to escape.”
The victims were transported to various hospitals in DuPage, Cook, and Will counties. Their ages remained unidentified on Monday.
Meanwhile, ABC7 and the attorney representing the Fakhouri family have been unable to locate the proprietor of the property.
Officials from DuPage County did not immediately share any information about who might be responsible for the shooting. They are still in the process of interviewing witnesses and conducting video surveillance.
Detectives from the sheriff’s office, as mentioned in a news release on Monday, are working to locate additional victims and witnesses who may not have sought medical attention for their injuries.
President Joe Biden has been closely monitoring the incident, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday.
She stated that the White House had “reached out to state and local authorities to provide any necessary federal support.”
She exclaimed, “It’s heart-wrenching.” “It’s sorrowful. He will persist in doing everything within his power.” “This form of firearm-related harm must cease, and the president will persist in employing his influential position to address this issue.”