Dupage Policy Journal

Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau (R) commended the police officers who responded to a shooting at the Oakbrook Center Mall Dec. 23, that left at least four injured and sent Christmas shoppers into a frenzy. 

In a Facebook post Dec. 24, Pekau thanked the Oak Brook responding officers, including several Orland Park officers from the South Suburban Emergency Response Team.

“I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I also want to send out prayers to the victims last night in Oak Brook as well as to all of the holiday shoppers that had a very frightening evening," Pekau wrote in his post. "I wish everyone a safe Christmas weekend and hope that you all enjoy the time with your family and friends." 

According to a report by ABC 7 Chicago, two men exchanged gunfire near the mall’s Ann Taylor store. One of the suspects was hit by gunfire and taken to a nearby hospital before being placed into custody.

Three bystanders were also hit by gunfire, but no fatalities have been reported, ABC 7 reported. 

Two suspects have been charged.

Oak Brook Chief of Police James Kruger told WGN Radio he is not worried about a repeat of the shooting and that his detectives have determined it was an “isolated incident.” He said the shooting was not related to the mall, but that the men who shot at each other just happened to meet there.

Fox News reported that DuPage County Commissioner Peter DiCianni called out Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx for being lax in prosecuting violent crime in Chicago, resulting in more crime spreading outside of the city.  

A 2020 Chicago Tribune analysis found that Foxx "dropped all charges against 29.9% of felony defendants, a dramatic increase over her predecessor."