Hundreds of people smashed windows, stole from stores and clashed with police in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile shopping district.
More than 100 people were arrested Monday following a night of looting and unrest that left 13 officers injured and caused damage in the city’s upscale Magnificent Mile shopping district and other parts of the city, authorities said. CBS Chicago reports Police Superintendent David Brown said it was „an incident of pure criminality“ that was prompted by the shooting of a person by police the previous day in the city’s Englewood neighborhood. At one point early Monday, shots were fired at police and officers returned fire, but no injuries were reported. Brown said a heavy police presence is expected in the downtown area until further notice. „This was straight up, felony criminal conduct,“ said Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. „This was an assault on our city.“ Those arrested were expected to face charges including looting, disorderly conduct, battery against police. Lightfoot said that the city has activated a neighborhood protection program that will be in place „for foreseeable days until we know our neighborhoods are safe.“ Many of the businesses that were ransacked had recently opened after Chicago protests of George Floyd’s May 25 death in Minneapolis devolved into chaos. Chicago businesses reported $66 million worth of damaged or stolen property to police during the looting and unrest after Floyd’s death, according to public records obtained by CBS Chicago. CBS Chicago reports that former Bears player Patrick Mannelly witnessed the looting from his high-rise condo and saw cars driving up to a U-Haul truck and putting stolen goods into the trailer.
