Gunman Shoots At Police During Father's Day Celebration In Grand Crossing Park

A Father's Day celebration in a park on Chicago's South Side turned violent on Sunday, as a gunman allegedly fired into the air amid the crowds, and at police officers attempting to detain him.

About 1,000 people had gathered for a picnic in Grand Crossing Park in the afternoon, when a shooter reportedly fired several rounds into the air, sending attendees fleeing for cover, according to the Chicago Tribune.

There was a greater-than-usual police presence in the area, though, because of a fatal shooting at the same picnic in 2009. 32-year-old Norman Maxey was killed, and a 20-year-old critically injured, in that year's shooting, for which no motive was discovered and no suspect held.

This time, officers were quick to find the shooter, and demanded that he lower his weapon. But he didn't comply, according to Fraternal Order of Police spokesman Pat Camden. “(The officers) yelled, ‘Police! Drop your gun!’” Camden told the Chicago Sun-Times. “Instead he fired a shot at the police.”

Officers fired back, wounding the man, who was taken to Stroger Hospital in critical condition.

WGN tells a slightly different story, as relayed by a witness: the man who fired the shots in the air then handed his weapon to another man, according to that source, who ended up in a shootout with the cops.

Three police officers were also injured, apparently in an attempt at crowd control after the incident. They were taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital in good to fair condition, according to NBC Chicago.

A gun was recovered at the scene.