Normal mayor to consider changing city ordinances after deadly 'pop-up' party

NORMAL (25News Now) – As the town of Normal welcomed family and alumni back to Illinois State University, the weekend took a violent turn, leaving one person dead.

Brad Park, public information officer for the Normal Police Department, said at 3:30 a.m. Sunday, officers went to the Circle K gas station in the 300 block of North Main Street, where a huge “Ephemeral” party attracted hundreds, even a thousand people.

Officers dispersed the group in the parking lot. As the group left, officers heard about eight shots fired a block down the street.

In the 300 block of North University, police found two 18-year-old men who had been shot, including Randall E. Glass of suburban Chicago, who died from multiple gunshot wounds.

Park said officers are continuing the “pop-up” parties all weekend.

“Pop-up parties are difficult because often we don’t know where they can take place. Information is shared very quickly on social media, and then once that information is shared by partygoers, they all converge on one place very quickly. It could be a city park, or it could be a local business parking lot,” Officer Park said.

Since mid-August, the City of Normal has hosted at least six pop-up evenings.

Park said the parties included ISU students and neighbors, but he thinks most people are not local. They park illegally, leave trash and alcohol bottles, damage property and engage in disorderly behavior.

“What we’re seeing with people coming from outside the community, it’s not here for the right reasons. They come here, they party, they don’t really care about the town of Normal or the town of Bloomington,” Park said.

Local officials, police and Illinois State University work together in hopes of controlling these chaotic parties. Mayor Chris Koos said he is talking with ISU student body leaders about how to prevent them.

Koos said city staff has a better understanding of “pop-up” parties and will review possible ordinance changes that must be approved by the city council.

“My number one priority right now is to find a solution and put policies and measures in place to prevent this from happening again. I think we have to draw a line here,” the mayor said.

Koos said while normal police were thoughtful in trying to contain the crowd, they were also cautious when dealing with a group of up to 1,000 people.

“It could have gotten even more out of hand,” Koos said.

Normal PD does not have any suspect information, but Officer Park encourages people to download their Normal PD app to submit an anonymous tip.

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