5 shot, 2 critical, in Peoria, Illinois.

Multiple People Injured‌ in Shooting Incident in Peoria, ‍Illinois

PEORIA, Ill.—A terrifying ⁣incident unfolded​ in the ​central Illinois city of ​Peoria, as five individuals were shot and wounded, two of them critically, in a hail of bullets,⁤ according to authorities.

The shocking ⁢incident occurred at⁢ approximately 9 p.m. on Wednesday, as confirmed by the police in a news release. The release ⁣mentioned that a staggering 29 shots were fired. However, it did not provide any ‌details regarding specific suspects or whether there‍ is an ongoing threat to public safety. Requests for further information from the police remain⁤ unanswered as of Thursday.

The victims,​ all males who were either adults or juveniles, were promptly ⁢transported to a nearby hospital. Additionally, a sixth person⁤ sustained ‍a laceration during​ the incident. While an adult and a juvenile are in critical condition, the injuries sustained ‌by the others ‍are ⁣not believed to be life-threatening.

“When we ‌arrived⁢ here,⁣ obviously there was ‍chaos,” Police Chief Eric Echevarria⁣ told WEEK-TV.

In response to the⁤ incident, the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department, the Illinois State Police,‌ and the Bureau⁤ of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also joined forces with the local police.

This shooting ⁢marks​ the fourth⁢ such ‍incident in Peoria within a span of just a⁣ few⁣ days. Peoria, with a population of approximately 110,000 and located about 120 miles (194 kilometers) southwest of Chicago, has been grappling with ⁤a surge in gun violence. In one recent case, a 17-year-old boy was charged with first-degree murder for a shooting that claimed the life of a 21-year-old man. Another incident resulted in the death of a‍ 34-year-old man who suffered multiple​ gunshot⁣ wounds, as reported by ⁣the (Peoria) Journal Star. Furthermore, a separate shooting on Tuesday left a juvenile with serious injuries.