According to reports, two people were shot in Peoria on Sunday and the responding officers faced an angry crowd while trying to assist.
Peoria Police Spokeswoman Semone Roth said officers responded to a call involving the intersection of Main and Monroe around 4:45 a.m. Sunday reporting that someone had been shot. Upon arrival, officers found a person with gunshot wounds who was subsequently taken to an area hospital.
According to Roth, while officers were investigating, police were surrounded by at least 50 people who were interfering with the officers and emergency medical personnel.
The officers requested support from neighboring units which included Peoria County Sheriff’s Office, East Peoria Police, Chillicothe Police, Bartonville Police, Bradley Police, and Illinois State Police who helped control the crowd.
Pepper ball launchers were used to help disperse the crowd and multiple arrests were made.
In a statement released Sunday afternoon, Police Chief Eric Echevarria said, “While officers were rendering aid and securing the scene, they were confronted with an aggressive crowd. At the same time, additional gunfire was heard coming from elsewhere downtown. A short time later, a second gunshot victim arrived at a local hospital by private vehicle.”