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DECATUR, Ill. (WCIA) — Two people were shot in Decatur on Saturday. Police initially broke up a crowd of 300-400 people around 3 a.m., but the crowd began to gather again, and an argument escalated into violence.
Officers with the Decatur Police Department responded near the intersection of E. Main and S. Illinois Streets around 3 a.m. on Saturday after multiple reports had been made about people partying, fighting, and that shots had been fired.
When officers arrived, they heard gunshots and could hear bullets flying through the air. Law enforcement dispersed the crowd, but some people started to come back after police left the area.
Sgt. Rolfs with the Decatur Police Department said people within the group that came back got into an argument, which escalated into a shots fired situation. The victims were in the area, and were hit by the gunfire. Neither victim is believed to have been involved in the shots that were fired, the police department said.
A 20-year-old woman was shot once in the hand and a 27-year-old man was shot four times — once in each limb. Both are expected to be okay.
Officers later recovered multiple 9mm casings. They also found property damage in the area.
Rolfs said anyone who sees a social media post telling people to take over a block or show up to a block party should stay away and report it to the police.
“I encourage people to stay away from pop-up parties,” Rolfs said. “The risk of death, injury or disability is not worth the excitement of some party.”
No arrests have been made at this time and the Decatur Police Department is still investigating. Anyone with additional information or surveillance video taken near the incident should contact the Decatur Police Department at 217-424-2711. To submit tips anonymously, contact Crime Stoppers on their website, at 217-423-8477 or text DPD33 to 274637.