BRIDGEPORT, IL – A man was seriously injured following a shooting at a Bridgeport restaurant late Friday night. The 32-year-old victim was inside the crowded Wings and Rings sports restaurant when two unidentified men approached him. A heated argument turned fatal when one man produced a firearm, firing several shots at the victim before fleeing the scene.
Witnesses, such as a worker at a neighboring smoke shop, expressed surprise at the event, noting the peaceful nature of the area. “We really don’t see anything crazy going on,” remarked an eight-year tenured employee, Alex. “This is definitely a crazy incident that happened last night. And we just pray for the best, and we want peace for everybody.”
Local authorities were alerted, with Alderwoman Nicole Lee receiving the update just past midnight. While the motive for the shooting is still unclear, Lee expressed her relief that no other injuries were reported.
Police collected multiple firearms from the scene as evidence. Lee highlighted the prevalent use of firearms in crime incidents, despite an overall decrease in shooting and murder cases. “It is really frightening now the number of incidents involving guns,” Lee commented.
As law enforcement ramped up patrols in the area in response to the event, Lee sought to reassure local residents and visitors of their safety and urged them to help police with the investigation.
The victim of the shooting was rushed to Stroger Hospital in a critical condition. There are currently no arrests, and detectives from Area 1 are still investigating the incident.