A Juneteenth celebration in Willowbrook, Illinois, turned into a scene of chaos and tragedy early Sunday morning when gunfire erupted, leaving one person dead and nearly two dozen injured. The incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. in a strip mall parking lot about 20 miles southwest of Chicago.

The DuPage County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased victim as 31-year-old Reginald Meadows, who suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the abdomen. Authorities reported that an unknown number of individuals fired multiple rounds from various weapons into the crowd. Several attendees also sustained injuries while attempting to escape the area.

Police had been present at the location prior to the shooting to monitor the gathering but had responded to a nearby disturbance shortly before the violence began. Upon hearing the gunshots, officers immediately returned to the scene.

Emergency responders transported numerous victims from the scene, while others sought medical attention at local hospitals. Witness accounts describe a chaotic scene with hundreds of people present at the celebration before the shooting started. The event was a Juneteenth celebration, commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas in 1865.

As of Monday, no arrests have been made, and the motive for the attack remains unknown. The DuPage County Sheriff’s Office is actively investigating the incident and interviewing persons of interest. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker expressed his condolences and stated that he is monitoring the investigation. The White House also released a statement offering assistance to state and local leaders.