Man Fatally Shot In Lobby Of Hotel Near McCormick Place
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A fight turns into a deadly shooting in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place.
Chicago Police say the shooting took place at 2:20 a.m. Saturday in the lobby of the hotel in the 2200 block of S. King Drive. Police say that several men got into an altercation in the lobby when a man pulled out a gun and shot a 25-year-old man in the head, killing him.
Interim Chicago Police Supt. John Escalante said detectives are making progress in their search for the gunman who shot a man dead in the lobby of the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place hotel.
Escalante said some of those involved in the shooting had been partying at the hotel and had been asked to leave because they had become so boisterous.
There are indications that the man, who was shot in the head, was trying to de-escalate the situation when the gunman fired.
"The individual was trying to deescalate the situation when it turned the wrong way," said community activist Andrew Holmes.
Escalante called the shooting "frustrating" and "senseless," and said detectives have determined "where the party originated," and said he expects an arrest to be made "in the near future."
The Cook County medical examiner identified the victim as 25-year-old Courtney Taylor of the 6800 block of South Paulina.
The victim's mother showed up at the scene and was emotional as she looked through the windows while officers processed the scene.
While police continue to look for the man responsible, many visiting the hotel for a children's convention today are still in shock.
"I think it's tragic, you know, and I think there should have been more security because they shouldn't have been able to come in with a gun."
Hotel guest Christine Ludke was staying in the 17th floor of the hotel.
"I exited the side of the building, I see all the police cars and I had no idea what was going on, didn't know why the elevators weren't working, left all my luggage upstairs and I get to the front desk and there is nothing but police and yellow tape," she said. "Nothing I would expect to wake up to."
No one is in custody.
A spokeswoman for the hotel released a statement saying, "At Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, the safety and security of guests and associates is a top priority. This appears to be an isolated incident, however the hotel is taking all appropriate precautions in an effort to ensure that guests and hotel associates remain in a safe environment. We also want to extend our sympathies to the family of the deceased. The hotel is cooperating with the authorities on their investigation, and inquiries should be directed to the Chicago Police Department."
