Navy Pier shooting: 2 dead at popular downtown attraction identified as Chicago police search for gunman

CHICAGO (WLS) — Authorities have released the identities of two people shot and killed at Navy Pier on Tuesday.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office has identified the victims as 51-year-old Lamont Johnson and 47-year-old Peter Jennings.

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Johnson’s aunt said he had worked at Navy Pier for more than 20 years. The family are devastated by his death and say he was a caring man who always helped those around him.

“The last 24 hours have made me numb, it’s immobilized me to the point where I’ve been sitting around all day,” Candy Johnson Rogers said.

The second victim has not yet been identified, while police are still searching for the shooter.

“I will remember him as a caring person, a giving person,” Candy Johnson said. “He reached out to help others, he was a good person.

Johnson is survived by three daughters and a son.

“One daughter was in the hospital for 10 days, he spent the day with her on Friday and then was taken to the same hospital, maybe in a body bag,” his aunt said.

Police said a disgruntled employee shot two of his former coworkers at Navy Pier on Tuesday. Police are still looking for that shooter.

“I brought out the automatic weapons, the full SWAT gear, the shields, the whole thing,” said Trent Halasek, who was visiting from Ohio.

This all happened as people filled the popular tourist destination that afternoon.

“We had to shut down the whole store, shut down the whole Navy Pier,” said Diamond Foster, who works at Navy Pier. ‘Everyone just closed down. Customers were coming in the back.”

Investigators said the suspect was fired on October 14.

The shooting prompted the Pier to undergo a short lockdown.

Although police said the incident took place in a loading dock office area, and not in a public area.

“As the subcontractor’s former employer, he had access,” Navy Pier COO Brian Murphy said. “He knew how to get to that back loading dock, and then we used our cameras to determine that he had left the pier.”
The two men died.

Levy confirmed that the victims worked for the restaurant and hospitality company, saying in a statement: “Our hearts break for their families and loved ones, whose lives have been changed forever.”

On Wednesday morning, Chicago police said they had no one in custody. They know who they’re looking for, we’re told, but the suspect’s name has not been released.

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