Eataly Chicago: Shot fired during altercation inside River North Italian grocer, police say

Chaos broke out at Eataly Chicago in River North Friday morning after a shot was fired during an altercation inside the downtown Italian specialty grocer, Chicago police said.

Reports of a physical altercation inside Eataly brought dozens of officers to the store at 43 East Ohio Street around 9:30 a.m.

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A man and two other people, identified only as male, got into a verbal and physical altercation inside the marketplace, police said. That's when the man took out a gun, which went off during the struggle. No one was shot.

Police said the two people the man was arguing with took the gun and fled the scene before officers arrived.

The man who pulled out the gun suffered minor injuries and was taken to Northwestern Hospital in good condition. The Chicago Fire Department said he had been punched in the face. No other injuries were reported.

A man was attacked at Eataly, drawing a large police presence in River North.

An employee told ABC7 shots were fired on the second floor of Eataly.

Carolyn Murray, a customer visiting Chicago this weekend from Crown Point, Indiana, said she was inside the store when she saw customers and staff running out in panic.

"Just as we entered the building, we saw people rushing out. We knew some kind of chaos was going on, but desperate for our coffee, we went and got in line. Then, the police and the SWAT and the heavy-duty guns were going in," Murray. "Someone was upstairs when the shooting went on, and he said he heard the shots."

Staff were temporarily held outside. An ABC7 crew said some managers were allowed back in a few at a time around 11 a.m.

Police appeared to be blocking roadways in the area, but all roads reopened by 10:30 a.m. The store itself was still blocked off at 11 a.m. as police continued to investigate.

Authorities did not immediately provide further information.

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