The Oak Brook Police Department has recognized seven people with a Meritorious Service Medal for aid they provided during a Dec. 23, 2021, incident involving two shooters at Oakbrook Center.
While an estimated 20,000 shoppers were finishing holiday shopping, multiple gunshots were fired, resulting in several injuries and a large-scale public safety response, police said.
During this incident, good Samaritans and patrons of Oakbrook Center came to the aid of injured persons, providing important medical aid until first responders could arrive. Other patrons provided critical intelligence and support that was important in the apprehension of offenders and retrieval of key evidence to secure criminal charges, police said.
Acting Police Chief John Krull said that given the magnitude and severity of the shooting incident, the level of assistance provided by patrons, Oakbrook Center employees and good Samaritans to first responders and victims in need of assistance was deserving of recognition.
More Top Picks Best Walk In Showers For Wheelchair Accessibility
“Their selfless actions while rendering critical medical aid, providing vital information and willingness to help another in a time of crisis were invaluable in mitigating the events that occurred,” Krull said. “It is with heartfelt appreciation and gratitude these deserving individuals were formally recognized by Village President (Gopal) Lalmalani, the Village Board, residents of Oak Brook, the Oak Brook Police Department and the patrons of Oakbrook Center.”
Those recognized at the Feb. 8 Village Board meeting were Jocelyn Needer, Jason Richmeier, Migual Guerrero, Xavier Rickette, Mark Bouquet, Kevin Vicino and Patrick Stockhausen.
The Dec. 23, 2021 incident occurred when three men got into an argument near the Auntie Anne’s pretzel shop and two of them fired a dozen shots, injuring four bystanders and sending shoppers fleeing, prosecutors said Wednesday.
Tyran Williams, 32, and Steve L. Lane, 29, both of Chicago, were charged with multiple felonies less than a week after the incident.
“That these two defendants decided to settle a verbal argument by taking out handguns and firing multiple times with thousands of men, women and children and families present is evidence of an unconscionable degree of violence and a complete and utter disregard for the safety of the public,” DuPage County Prosecutor Robert Berlin said during a Dec. 29, 2021, news conference after the men appeared in court.
Investigators recovered both guns and found DNA matched to Lane and Williams on the weapons, Berlin said.
A 43-year-old woman was shot in the leg, a 25-year-old woman was shot in the foot, a 47-year-old woman was shot in the buttocks and a 57-year-old man suffered a graze wound, Berlin said.
Lane was charged with one count of aggravated battery with a firearm, a class X felony, four counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon. Williams was charged with four counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and one count of unlawful use of a weapon by a felon.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.