CHICAGO — A man was hospitalized after being shot during a sidewalk altercation outside a busy Lou Malnati’s pizzeria in the River North neighborhood Friday evening, according to police.
The shooting occurred around 7:05 p.m. in the 400 block of North Wells Street, an area bustling with weekend diners. A 36-year-old man reportedly got into a fight with another man when the confrontation escalated.
Gunman Fled Toward the Loop After Firing Shot
Police say the suspect pulled out a firearm during the argument and shot the victim in the left forearm. The shooter, described as a Black male wearing a khaki t-shirt and red backpack, fled the scene heading toward the Loop on a black E-bike.
The injured man was transported to the hospital in good condition, officials confirmed.
Nearby Violence on the Rise in 2025
This incident adds to a growing tally of shootings in the Near North Side. According to statistics cited by CWBChicago, 13 people have been shot in the area so far in 2025 — up from 11 during the same time last year.
In River North alone, seven people have been shot this year. Here’s a breakdown of year-to-date shooting totals in the neighborhood:
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2024: 4
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2023: 8
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2022: 13
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2021: 16
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2020: 8
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2019: 2
The data includes incidents like accidental shootings, self-defense cases, and police-involved shootings, though each of those categories account for one or fewer cases per year in these totals.
Police Still Searching for the Shooter
No arrests have been made, and investigators are continuing their efforts to identify and locate the suspect involved in Friday’s attack. Surveillance footage from nearby businesses is expected to be reviewed.
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