North Avenue Beach was closed Friday afternoon after shots were fired, police said. No injuries have been reported at this time.
Just before Memorial Day weekend, Friday marked the first day the city’s 22 beaches opened for the summer.
Officers responded to a call of shots fired at 1:26 p.m. at 1600 N. Lake Shore Drive. A juvenile has been taken into custody.
According to police, charges are pending and the incident is under investigation by Area 3 detectives. The northern section of North Avenue Beach, south of Fullerton Avenue, remained closed as of Friday afternoon.
A video shared with the Tribune shows a police car quickly drive past a group of children playing outside Latin School of Chicago, which is just southwest of the beach at 59 W. North Blvd.
Mayor Brandon Johnson shared a statement about the shooting on Twitter, saying: “I am aware of the events that have taken place at North Avenue Beach late this afternoon. I am in contact with our first responders and continue to keep a close eye on and monitor the situation as details unfold.”
Johnson had announced plans to combat violence across the city during the long weekend — the first major warm-weather holiday of the year — which include funding for street outreach workers, youth programs and increased police presence across the city.
Additionally, the state is deploying 30 “peacekeepers” in Chicago over the holiday weekend whose role will be to try to de-escalate potential violence.
Chicago Tribune’s Sam Charles contributed.
