A person of interest was taken into custody Friday night after a man was killed and a 15-year-old girl was wounded in a shooting at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago mall in Rosemont, police said.
About 7:10 p.m., Rosemont police responded to the mall in Rosemont, 5220 Fashion Outlets Way, for calls of shots fired, Rosemont police Sgt. Joseph Balogh said in a statement. Officers found 20-year-old Joel Valdes, of Skokie, lying on the ground of the first floor’s south hallway, a short distance from the food court, with multiple gunshot wounds.
Valdes was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Balogh said. A second person, a 15-year-old girl, was found inside a bathroom near the food court with a gunshot wound near her right wrist and was grazed by a bullet on her leg.
The girl was also taken to the hospital, where her condition was stabilized, Balogh said. There were reports of a third gunshot victim, but that has not been confirmed.
The alleged shooter, described as a male in his mid-twenties with a mask covering his face, left the scene of the shooting in a 2008 Maroon-colored Honda, Balogh said. The Honda was later located outside of Rosemont with the owner of the vehicle, who is being questioned about their involvement in the shooting.
After two people were shot, one fatally, at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago mall in Rosemont on Friday night, police worked to search the mall and secure the scene. Here, some officers check the mall’s parking garage.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
It is unknown if the driver of the vehicle is the person who is believed to have fired shots. No other persons have been identified, Balogh said.
The shooting is believed to have been an isolated incident and the alleged shooter targeted Valdes, Balogh said.
“We want to urge the public and let them know this area is safe. This was an isolated incident, there was not an active shooter here,” Balogh said in a press conference Friday night.
After the initial call, officers worked to systematically clear the mall building and parking garage, police said. The mall was cleared of guests by about 11:15 p.m., Balogh said. A gun was found at the scene and is being processed as evidence.
The mall was released back to management following police’s investigation, Balogh said. Extra police presence will be in and around the area when the mall reopens.
About 10 a.m. Saturday, seemingly confused and frustrated shoppers arrived to find the mall was not open. Later Saturday morning, some shoppers left exclaiming “We don’t know what is going on!”
The mall reopened just after noon.
A police patrol vehicle and an unmarked squad car could be seen parked in front of the mall Saturday afternoon.
Any person who may have further details surrounding the shooting is urged to contact the police department tip line at 224-585-2865.
Sgt. Joe Balogh with the Rosemont Public Safety Department updates reporters outside the Fashion Outlets of Chicago mall after two people were shot, one fatally, near the mall’s food court Friday night.
Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times
Visitors waiting for the mall to open stand outside Fashion Outlets Chicago in Rosemont, Ill., Saturday morning, March 26, 2022, after a gunman killed one person and injured another Friday night.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
A Rosemont police squad car and an unmarked vehicle are parked outside Fashion Outlets Chicago in Rosemont, Ill., Saturday morning, March 26, 2022, after a gunman killed one person and injured another Friday night.
Pat Nabong/Sun-Times
