Get ready, Lake County shoppers – Gurnee Mills is about to get even better! In a major announcement Tuesday, Simon Property Group unveiled plans to welcome five new retailers to Illinois’ largest outlet mall over the next year and a half.
Grayslake, IL. – Commuters and residents were met with some unexpected drama on Wednesday night when gunfire erupted near the Lake Street Metra station. The incident left disrupting rail services and mobilized local law enforcement agencies.
The Grayslake-Hainesville Police Department quickly came to action after receiving reports of gunshots in the area of the train station. As a precaution, Metra officials immediately suspended all train traffic on the line, sending an alert to riders around 8:15 p.m. Train 2147, which was heading to Fox Lake and due to arrive at 8:15 p.m., was among the trains that came to a jarring halt. Authorities were working to secure the area and investigate the incident, causing long delays for the passengers.
Information about the incident was initially provided by Police Chief Jeff Myhra of the Grayslake-Hainesville Police Department. The gunfire was not directed toward the Metra station, though officers had located several fired handguncasings along the railroad tracks, Myhra confirmed. The significance of the area was listed as being south of the Glen Street Apartments, which sits between the train station and Alleghany Road.
Despite the alarming nature of the event, Chief Myhra offered some reassurance to the community. “At this time, we have no reports of injuries,” he stated. “Furthermore, our preliminary investigation suggests that the shots were not aimed at any specific person or object.” This information helped to calm initial fears, though questions about the shooter’s intentions remained unanswered.
The investigation is being led by the Grayslake Police Department, and assisted by the Metra Police Department. Officials are hard at work collecting information to record what happened that night, find any possible suspects and figure out why the gunfire started in the first place. While the investigation is ongoing, residents are urged to reach out with any information that could help law enforcement solve the case.
The Grayslake community has been deeply affected by the incident. Sarah Thompson, who lives in the area, said, “It is frightening to know that such an event can occur so close to us.” We all hope, for answers and added security measures.” The incident has raised questions about public safety and the need for vigilance in suburban areas long viewed as low-risk. While normalcy has slowly been restored to the Metra services, the attack on Wednesday remains a stark reminder of the unknown difficulties that can affect any community. Local officials said they would update residents as there were any significant changes in the ongoing investigation.