CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago’s West Loop community was left in shock after a brazen attack and armed robbery was caught on video this week. The video may be difficult to watch. The armed robbery happened in the middle of afternoon Thursday as people were out and about in the West Loop. Chicago police say they are still looking for the suspects. ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch “I watched the video like 10 times and I was just a lost for words,” Jars store manager Ashley Shannon said. Shannon says she was in the back working at the West Loop store during the crime. It wasn’t until later in the day she found out the attack happened right outside the shop. “I was in the back working with the mixer and the mixer is a little loud, so I didn’t really hear any commotion outside really,” Shannon said. “You know this is Chicago, and we know that things can happen anywhere, but it’s like literally at my doorstep.” The video has since gone viral. ABC7 has blurred the face of the victim to protect his identity. It shows two people robbing a man at gunpoint in broad daylight in the Fulton Market District in the West Loop. Chicago police confirmed they are investigating the attack as an armed robbery and battery. It happened around 4: 23 p. m. afternoon in the 200 block of North Peoria Street, near Lake Street. The video shows two people surrounding a man on the ground, and at one point one of them hits the victim in the face while pointing a gun. Chicago police said the robbers took the man’s belongings before driving off in an SUV. Police say the victim declined medical attention. SEE ALSO | Wendella boat crew pulls man from Chicago River who had fallen off downtown bridge “I think most of the time you think something like that happens at night, but you see it happening in the middle of the day,” resident Marcus Smith said. “Kind of not even being hidden. It’s probably the most alarming thing about it.” Julie Darling is president of the West Loop Community Organization. She says the area has already seen an increased police presence and urges people to stay vigilant. “We do have heavy police presence here in Fulton Market, and it’s something that our organization has been fighting for a long time, and we finally received it last August, where we do have permanent patrol in the neighborhood,” Darling said. “Police can’t be every corner, unfortunately, but we do have a rapid response time now. I’m usually walking with a purpose so I’m usually moving pretty quick too,” Smith said. “But outside of that, you know, you just got to pray you don’t run into a situation like that.” Chicago police say area detectives are still investigating. Anyone with information has been asked to give police a call.
https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-crime-west-loop-community-shocked-video-shows-man-robbed-gunpoint-beaten-broad-daylight-peoria-street/18597664/
West Loop community shocked after video shows man robbed at gunpoint, beaten in broad daylight
