Overview
- Police say a group of minors used antisemitic language and one fired gel pellets from a toy gun during an Oct. 7 incident that began at Shawnee Park and spilled onto a nearby street.
- Investigators interviewed all known youths and several adult witnesses and identified the minor alleged to have discharged the gel blaster.
- One child reported being struck in the leg by a gel pellet, and police determined reports of an adult displaying a real gun were not credible.
- Skokie Mayor Ann Tennes condemned the episode, and officials said hate and bias incidents are recorded and shared with the Human Relations Commission.
- The Chicago Jewish Alliance has urged residents to press for accountability at upcoming civic meetings, and parents of the victims are seeking legal counsel.