Pritzker, Chicago mayor blasted for rejecting federal help on crime surge
Faced with a troubling rise in violent crime and a 9% increase in homicides, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Governor Pritzker have turned down federal assistance offered by President Trump. The decision is in the spotlight as former FBI Special Agent Nicole Parker and ex-LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva weigh in on the city’s controversial move to release a teacher involved in a recent mass shooting and discuss the FBI’s tactics to prevent a terror plot aimed at the White House.
A CBS News Chicago crew, consisting of a reporter and a photographer, faced an unexpected assault on Monday afternoon while prepping for a live segment near the Adler Planetarium, as confirmed by both the station and local law enforcement.
The attack occurred at approximately 4:25 p.m. along the 900 block of East Solidarity Drive, close to Adler Planetarium, according to a Chicago Police spokesperson.
According to police reports, several men in a truck allegedly approached and exited the vehicle, launching an attack on the media personnel while allegedly directing racial slurs at one of the journalists.
This altercation was reported at around 4:25 p.m. on the 900 block of E. Solidarity Drive, authorities confirmed. (Getty Images)
The men ordered a dog to attack the pair of journalists. But when the dog did not attack, the suspects began damaging their equipment, police said.
One of the suspects smashed the photographer’s camera, and another smashed the windshield of the news truck, the outlet reported.
The two journalists escaped from the incident unharmed.
Multiple men arrived in a truck before they allegedly exited the vehicle and rushed at the victims as they shouted racial slurs. (Getty Images)
“Two male victims, while standing on the sidewalk, were approached by multiple unknown male offenders who exited a white truck,” police told News Media.
“One of the offenders directed a dog to attack a 54-year-old male victim while yelling slurs,” police added. “When the dog did not attack, the male offender became irate and damaged the victim’s property by throwing it on the ground. All the offenders re-entered the white truck and fled the scene in an unknown direction. There are no injuries reported.”
Police then arrested multiple people in Brighton Park following a police chase, the outlet reported, adding that the incident involved a gun being pointed at another person.
The two journalists escaped from the incident unharmed. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
“We are shocked and horrified by this crime, and we are grateful that our journalists are safe,” a spokesperson for CBS said in a statement.
The incident remains under investigation.
News Media has reached out to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson for comment.