Categories: Chicago

Panic erupts as reports of active shooter turns out to be a drill

Chicago police had gotten a call on Thursday afternoon that there was an active shooter in a Loop office building but it was nothing but a drill. The authorities say that the drill was conducted without telling the employees about it. The call had come in around 1 p.m. for the seventh floor of the building at 225 W. Randolph St.

Police said that the caller told them that people were hiding in the conference rooms because of a presence of shooter. The police had gotten into action as they entered the building with shields and split into two teams as they headed to the seventh floor. They say that they had found people there but there was no presence of a shooter, a weapon and gunfire.

When the police identified the 911 call, it was revealed that he was given information by someone in Dallas about the shooter, hence he told the police about it. Other people had also called 911 about an active shooter as well. The police had tweeted, “Active Shooter DRILL at 225 W. Randolph.” They said that there were no reports of injuries.

Police say that at least one group of people had no knowledge about the ‘active shooter’. They had starting hiding as they saw the police rushing into the building. Police had continued searching each floor of the building for people who had locked themselves. People were terrified of what had happened to them. One woman came out with tears from the building as she was greeted with a hug by another woman.

Stephanie Johnson, 34, wiping tears off her cheeks said, “I’m all kinds of shook right now.’’ She said that she along with her co-workers had received a text alert of police activity in the building to take shelter. She said that there was panic everywhere as people started running and hiding.

Jackson Sorbo

Managing editor of the Chicago Morning Star

Recent Posts

DeRozan, Kings Top Knicks as Bulls Win Thriller

DeMar DeRozan scored 27 points, and Zach LaVine added 25 as the Sacramento Kings earned their third straight win, defeating…

2 days ago

Chicago Employment Index Falls to Lowest Level Since 2009

Chicago businesses recorded their weakest employment reading in more than a decade, according to new data released by the Illinois…

3 days ago

Chicago Small Businesses Enter 2026 With Cautious Outlook

As 2026 begins, small businesses across Chicagoland are adjusting expectations after a year defined by economic uncertainty, according to new…

3 days ago

Illinois Approves New Regional Transit Authority Overhaul

Illinois lawmakers have approved a major overhaul of public transportation governance in the Chicago region, creating a new regional oversight…

5 days ago

Mammoth Seek Wild-Card Push vs. Blues in Salt Lake

The Utah Mammoth will try to move back into playoff position Friday night when they host the St. Louis Blues…

1 week ago

Phillies to Meet With Free Agent Shortstop Bo Bichette

The Philadelphia Phillies have scheduled a meeting with free agent shortstop Bo Bichette, according to a report by The Athletic.…

1 week ago

This website uses cookies.