1 killed, 3 wounded after fireworks display

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police are investigating a deadly shooting in the Loop that happened just as tens of thousands of people were heading home from the city's holiday fireworks show Thursday night.

The sound of gunfire near Van Buren and Dearborn sent people running for cover.

The gunfire struck 19-year-old Courtney Thomas, Jr in the chest. He was pronounced dead at Northwestern Hospital.

Thomas was gunned down as he, his younger brother, and their friends left Thursday night's lakefront fireworks display. The victim's father says that his son was targeted after Roy, as the family called him, had some sort of altercation with another man who was at the Thursday night celebration with some of his own friends.

"Each of my other sons, he said go home and be safe. He knew it was going to happen. Pow, he shot him, he's dead," said Courtney Thomas, Sr.

At least three other young men were also wounded near the area. Video captured just moments after the attack shows friends comforting one boy grazed on the head by a bullet and another struck in the arm. They were treated at area hospitals and released.

Dozens of officers flooded that area of the Loop, including a number of heavily armed special operations officers.

Police searched for clues, interviewed witnesses and checked area security cameras. So far, they haven't determined a motive for the shooting.

Police say one person is being held in connection with the shootings, and a weapon has been recovered.

Police are also looking into if there were any other shooters involved in the attacks and trying to determine if the other individuals who were wounded were intended targets or simply innocent bystanders.

The shootings appear to be gang related.

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