CHICAGO, IL – A CBS News Chicago reporter and photographer were targeted in a violent assault Monday afternoon while preparing for a live broadcast near the Adler Planetarium.
The Assault and Racial Slurs
The incident occurred around 4:25 p.m. in the 900 block of East Solidarity Drive. According to the Chicago Police Department, multiple men pulled up in a white truck, exited the vehicle, and rushed toward the journalists.
One of the suspects began shouting racial slurs at a 54-year-old male journalist and ordered a dog to attack the crew.
Equipment and Vehicle Damaged
When the dog refused to attack, the situation escalated. The irate suspects began destroying the news crew’s equipment. One offender smashed the photographer’s camera by throwing it onto the ground, while another shattered the windshield of the CBS news truck.
Fortunately, both journalists managed to escape the encounter unharmed. The suspects then re-entered their white truck and fled the scene.
Police Chase and Arrests
Following the attack, Chicago Police tracking the vehicle initiated a pursuit. The chase ended in the Brighton Park neighborhood, where officers arrested multiple suspects.
Authorities revealed that the apprehension also involved an incident where a firearm was pointed at another individual.
Station Response
In an official statement, a CBS spokesperson expressed relief and outrage over the targeted attack, stating:
“We are shocked and horrified by this crime, and we are grateful that our journalists are safe.”
The investigation into the full circumstances of the attack remains active.
