Share and Follow

CHICAGO (WLS) — A man was wounded in a shootout after several people got into a fight outside a terminal at O’Hare airport Wednesday morning, Chicago police said.

The shooting took place at about 12:54 a.m. on the street outside Terminal 2.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

Police said several men got into a fight near one of the baggage carousels. The altercation quickly moved outside.

One witness told police one of the men got a weapon from a car, and opened fire before returning to the vehicle.

A 25-year-old man was shot twice in the lower body. He was taken to Lutheran General Hospital, where he was stable, police said.

Dozens of shell casings littered the crime scene, which shut down the terminal’s Arrivals area for hours, with law enforcement on scene.

A single bullet hole surrounded by thousands of shards of shattered glass was just a fraction of the evidence left strewn about the scene. Investigators paced the traffic lanes early Wednesday morning.

According to a police report obtained by the ABC7 I-Team, evidence techs counted at least 57 bullet casings.

SEE ALSO: Hadiya Pendleton shooting suspect to remain detained ahead of retrial

James Van Schaick heard at least some of those shots from his Hilton Hotel room.

“The first round, it sounded like really rapid firing. much like automatic,” Van Schaick said. “I don’t know if it was or not. there was a lot of echoing and resonance to it.”

In one video shared hundreds of times on social media, there are frenzied images of chaos before gunfire erupts.

The police report reviewed by the I-Team described what police said was an argument turned shootout.

“There was a round of firing and then there was a pause and a number of individual shots too,” Van Schaick said. “I looked down and just saw people scattering.”

In the report reviewed by the I-Team, investigators wrote that people scattered in multiple dark and tan vehicles. Investigators locked down the Terminal 2 traffic area for hours into daylight.

Mayor Brandon Johnson acknowledged the shootout at O’Hare, and Sunday’s shooting of a tourist in Streeterville, while speaking after a City Council meeting Wednesday afternoon.

“This altercation… happened outside the airport… and all of the lower level terminals are fully operational,” Johnson said. “But with both of these incidents, what they show us is that the danger in our city, particularly around illegal guns, continues to pose a threat to the streets of Chicago.”

One traveler said she was asleep at the time, when a bullet pierced the window just feet from where she was.

“I have no clue how I did not hear this, and when I woke up I saw all the cops,” traveler Raquel Barajas said. “I was terrified; so, I honestly, these ear plugs saved my life. Getting up would have made me more scared and put me in a worse scenario. So, I’m just really grateful to be alive right now.”

As they returned from a trip to Arkansas Wednesday, Chicago natives John and Rose Sullivan say they are shocked but not surprised to learn about the morning’s violence.

“You hope you’re safe. There are so many things that can happen, not just at O’Hare, everywhere. You never know,” Rose Sullivan said.

No one else was injured. Police are interviewing a second person, and Area Five detectives are investigating.

Investigators will process dozens of bullets trying to trace them to multiple shooters that turned an airport arrival zone to a bullet-riddled crime scene.

INTERACTIVE SAFETY TRACKER Track crime and safety in your neighborhood

Copyright © 2025 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Brooklyn Beckham FINALLY speaks out on family feud

Brooklyn Beckham Breaks Silence on Family Dispute

Brooklyn Beckham has made headlines with a surprising public critique of his…
Anti-ICE agitators occupy Minnesota Target store, demand retailer stop helping federal agents

Protesters Rally at Minnesota Target, Urge End to Store’s Collaboration with ICE Agents

In Minnesota, protesters opposing ICE took over a Target store on Monday,…
Bills fire Sean McDermott after 9 seasons of falling short of reaching Super Bowl, AP sources say

Buffalo Bills Part Ways with Sean McDermott After Nine Seasons Without a Super Bowl Appearance, Reports Suggest

ORCHARD PARK, New York — The Buffalo Bills have parted ways with…
Trump prepares to 'punch allies' at Davos amid Greenland threat

Trump’s Bold Moves at Davos: Greenland Controversy and Strained Alliances

Donald Trump is set to deliver a speech to the world’s elite…
Six countries confirm US invitations to Gaza peace board

Global Diplomacy in Action: Six Nations Join US-Led Initiative for Gaza Peace Talks

The United States has taken a significant diplomatic step by extending invitations…
Super Bowl champion Chet Brooks dead at 60 after cancer battle

Legendary Super Bowl Champion Chet Brooks Passes Away at 60 After Courageous Cancer Battle

The Texas A&M Aggies community is mourning the loss of Chet Brooks,…
Green Day honored with star on Hollywood Walk of Fame

Green Day Set to Kick Off Super Bowl LX with Special Anniversary Tribute to Generations of MVPs

The NFL is celebrating the 60th Super Bowl anniversary with a local…
12-year-old boy saved mom's life after she lost consciousness while behind the wheel with foot still on gas

Heroic 12-Year-Old Saves Mother’s Life in Dramatic On-the-Road Rescue

A 12-year-old boy from England has been recognized for his heroic actions…