Three people killed as gunman opens fire in Illinois bowling alley
Three people were killed and another three injured on Saturday in the US state of Illinois when a shooter opened fire at a bowling alley, police said.
Authorities believe it was a random attack.
Rockford city police urged people on Twitter to stay away from the area near the Don Carter Lanes bowling alley, because it was an "active situation" and officers were clearing the site.
"It's still an ongoing investigation. We do have three individuals that are confirmed deceased," police chief Dan O'Shea said in a press conference outside the building.
He said three other people had been injured from the gunfire and were being treated at local hospitals.
"We have a person of interest in custody. That's pretty much where we're at," chief O'Shea said, without specifying if the shooter had a motive.
UPDATE: Suspect is in custody. This is an active and ongoing investigation. If you have any further information, please contact us at 815-966-2900 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 815-963-7867.
— RockfordILPolice (@RockfordPD) December 27, 2020
He did not think any police officers fired their weapons.
Rockford is about 80 miles (130km) northwest of Chicago.
Don Carter Lanes posted a simple message on Facebook after the shooting asking people to "pray please".
Shootings are a frequent occurrence in the United States. Despite the scale of the gun violence, efforts to address it legislatively have long been deadlocked at the federal level.
