Nearly two weeks after three people were shot during a repass at a Salvation Army facility in Blue Island, the business is reopened, but neither the Salvation Army nor Blue Island officials are commenting on the shooting.
Village officials said in a news release a few hours after the shooting that one person was taken into custody for questioning and an active investigation was underway to identify the vehicle and remaining offenders.
Blue Island authorities have not announced any charges or said if the person was released from custody, even though under Illinois law a person can only be held for up to 72 hours before they must be charged or brought before a judge.
The Blue Island city administrator, Tom Wogan would not provide an update despite multiple requests from the Southtown over the last week.
When the Southtown reached out to Blue Island Mayor Fred Bilotto, Wogan responded on his behalf.
“The investigation is ongoing. At this time there are no further updates. The City will provide more information as it becomes available,” Wogan said in an email.
The village also said in a statement June 21 that a full security assessment would be conducted at the Salvation Army before the facility would be allowed to reopen.
According to the church’s Facebook account, the facility reopened Monday, July 1.
A spokesperson for the Salvation Army North and Central Illinois Division told the Southtown they are not doing interviews at this time.
“We are actively working with the City of Blue Island and local law enforcement to ensure that everyone who enters our facility is as safe as possible,” they said in a statement. “This collaboration will be ongoing and thorough as we work to create the safest environment possible for all of our guests.”
The shooting occurred at about 3:30 p.m. June 21, in the parking lot of the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center at 2900 W. 127th St., authorities said. The center was rented for a repass service for a young woman who was shot earlier that week.
An unidentified vehicle carrying multiple gunmen opened fire at the front of the facility. A guest inside, who holds a concealed carry permit, returned fire at the vehicle, authorities said.
Two of the injured people were escorted to nearby hospitals, and the third was self-admitted to a different hospital, authorities said.
Blue Island chief of police, Geoffery Farr could not be reached for comment.
