It was supposed to be an ordinary Wednesday afternoon at the Walmart Supercenter in Evergreen Park — until gunfire erupted, turning a routine shopping trip into a chilling scene of chaos. Around 3 p.m., police say, an argument spilled into violence at the store located at 95th Street and Western Avenue, leaving two people wounded and a suspect behind bars.
Eyewitnesses told reporters they heard rapid “bow, bow, bow” shots echo as customers ducked for cover, running in all directions. Employees and shoppers alike described a moment of pure panic: one said she “never expected to experience a shooting at the store.”
When officers arrived, they found a 23-year-old man inside Walmart bleeding heavily from multiple gunshot wounds to his leg. He was rushed to Advocate Christ Medical Center and by early evening was reported to be in surgery. Meanwhile, outside the store, a 70-year-old woman was struck in the foot — likely by a ricochet or bullet fragment — and taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital, where she is in stable condition.
According to Evergreen Park Police Chief Michael Saunders, the shooting appears to have stemmed from a dispute between two men who knew each other. The suspect, carrying a handgun, followed the man into the store and fired multiple times. The victim ran inside seeking cover, but was hit in the leg during the pursuit. After the attack, the shooter fled the building, but was nabbed within about 15 minutes hiding in a nearby yard. A firearm was recovered at the scene.
Police say they traced the suspect through surveillance video captured by Walmart, and store security helped identify him — he was wearing the same clothing seen in the footage. While the investigation is ongoing, authorities have not released his identity, nor have they confirmed whether additional people were involved.
Back at the scene, the parking lot and main entrance were sealed off with crime scene tape as dozens of officers combed the area for evidence. Detectives are now sifting through surveillance footage, interviewing store employees and witnesses, and trying to piece together how a disagreement escalated into a shooting in a crowded public place.
As of now, the Walmart remains closed while the investigation continues. No motive has been released, and charges are still pending. But for shoppers and residents, the questions are stark and immediate: How did this happen — and what could it mean for a community trying to feel safe again?
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