Video captures moment when gunfire rang out in deadly Willowbrook mass shooting
WILLOWBROOK, Ill. (CBS) -- For more than a day now, investigators have been on the scene of a mass shooting in southwest suburban Willowbrook.
One man was killed in the shooting in a parking lot near Hinsdale Lake Terrace at Route 83 and Honeysuckle Rose Lane in Willowbrook Township early Sunday morning. The shooting made national headlines across the country – getting the attention of the office of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the White House.
It also came during a weekend in which there were 62 shootings and 10 homicides within the Chicago city limits nearby.
The DuPage County Sheriff's Department said they still in the process of interviewing the enormous number of victims and witnesses in the Willowbrook shooting.
CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey learned more from the witnesses Monday — and got a clearer look at the moment the shots were fired. Be warned that the video of that moment is difficult to watch.
"Once the shots started being fired, basically everybody just took cover," said a witness, Natalie.
A friend of Natalie's captured the moment on cellphone video when the shots were fired - around 12:25 a.m. Sunday. There are too many gunshots to count in the recording, which speaks for itself as to how dangerous the situation was.
"It was a continuous round of shots," said Natalie.
Neighbors said they are frustrated with the lack of information they've gotten so far from law enforcement, nearly two days after the start of the Juneteenth celebration.
Police were in the area monitoring the gathering, which started at 6 p.m. Saturday in the shopping area parking lot.
As the party continued on into the early morning on Sunday, multiple rounds were fired into the crowd by an unknown number of suspects.
As of Monday, the DuPage County Sheriff's Department confirmed that they are aware of 23 people shot, including one fatally and said they will not be releasing their names, locations, or individual conditions due to safety concerns.
And as the investigation continued Monday night, those injured spoke out about overall concern after the incident.
DuPage deputies checked under the hood of LaToya Taylor's sport-utility vehicle Monday. She was back nearly two days after the mass shooting to get her car from the parking lot.
"I'm just happy I still got my life," Taylor told CBS 2's Jermont Terry.
That is because the five bullet holes in Taylor's SUV were not the only place those bullets landed.
"I really thought it was fireworks. I was trying to figure out why everybody was running - and then, when I end up getting shot in my arm, I'm just like – it was just I couldn't stop running," Taylor said. "You have to run to safety somehow."
Taylor was one of the 22 people shot and wounded in the mass shooting. As DuPage County investigators canvassed the parking lot for evidence Monday, Taylor questioned whether they would find the person who fired the shots – given that close to 300 people were gathering for the event.
"It was plenty of people outside," Taylor said. "I highly doubt they are going to, but I hope so – just because I got shot, and I lost my friend behind it."
Taylor's friend, 31-year-old Reginald Meadows of Willowbrook, was killed in the mass shooting. He was shot in the abdomen.
The father of two attended the gathering with his family.
"I feel so bad, just because he was a good person," Taylor said.
On Monday night, Meadows' family held a private memorial across the street from the mass shooting scene. Through their attorney, Meadows' family raised concerns about how and why the event was allowed to take place with no security.
"A property owner owes a duty to those that he lawfully allows on his premises to ensure that it is safe, and the failure to implement any safety measures while hosting an event for the third time - with knowledge of a prior instances of violence while this specific event was taking place on their property - exposes them to liability," said Meadows family attorney Robert Fakhouri.
Despite a bullet going through her arm, and her SUV being riddled with bullets, Taylor is torn about all she experienced.
"I don't really know if I want to say I regret going or not, because it was a good time," she said. "It's just unfortunate that, you know, it ended so tragically."
Investigators late Monday continued to process the scene - marking shell casings and other evidence left behind in the rush, and investigating vehicles that have remained roped off to the public.
Ballistics evidence was still being processed Monday, and will be crucial to this investigation.
Neighbors we spoke to are still rattled by what they saw.
"People need to be aware," said Natalie. "People need to start loving each other more. People need to start respecting each other more."
Some witnesses we spoke to also questioned why police, who were already on the scene, didn't shut down the party sooner when they saw things start to escalate.
Other neighbors told us they couldn't have predicted the party would end like it did - based on years past.
"Because the last three years, there hasn't been any incidents," said Natalie. "There's been parties – like last year they were out here prob 4 in the morning, 5 in the morning; till the sun came up."
As for that lack of information from law enforcement, the DuPage County Sheriff's Department said they are still in the middle of interviewing the enormous number of victims and witnesses who were there.
They are also trying to locate additional witnesses and victims who may not have sought medical attention for their injuries.
CBS 2 reached out to the businesses in this strip mall and the apartment complex directly across the street. A representative from the apartment complex declined to comment, but reiterated that this was not on their property.
