On Friday, three individuals were shot outside a problematic hookah lounge located on the border of West Town and Wicker Park. This marked the second shooting incident at the venue in 18 months. Following this incident, the city authorities have taken the necessary measures to shut down the lounge.
Alderman Daniel La Spata (1st) expressed his agreement with the community’s frustration over the shooting incident on Friday afternoon and promptly called for the business’s immediate closure.
La Spata expressed deep concern regarding the recent events, especially in light of the violent incident that occurred at the same business in early 2023. He also mentioned the extensive community meetings that took place for a year to revise their Plan of Operations.
At 1:27 a.m. on Friday, a group of people was standing on the sidewalk outside the lounge when a gunman in a black sedan fired at them, according to the police. However, a witness who spoke to CWBChicago claimed to have seen a second gunman shoot from a nearby corner. The witness believed that the shooting was an “ambush-style shooting” based on what they saw. The officials have now revealed that the shootings were preceded by a fight inside Lyon’s Den.
Upon scouring the area, investigators were able to identify over 20 shell casings scattered across three different locations on the block. Fortunately, three men, aged 23, 32, and 45, sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were reported to be in good condition after being shot.
On January 1, 2023, at the break of dawn, a gunfight ensued close to the entrance of Lyon’s Den, resulting in the unfortunate demise of one of the club’s security personnel while another person was left wounded.
Around 1:30 a.m., following the shooting incident, a man wielded a handgun and attempted to enter Lyon’s Den. The victims engaged in a gunfight with the perpetrator, resulting in the death of Austin McAllister, a 38-year-old bouncer at the establishment and a father of six. Another victim, a 26-year-old man, sustained a gunshot wound to his left calf but survived the attack. McAllister’s family members confirmed that he was not only a father of six but also a military veteran.
After being injured in Iraq, he returned home to Chicago only to be fatally shot for simply turning away a patron from a hookah lounge. He wasn’t out partying or drinking; he was working to provide for his children and himself. “He got hurt in Iraq to come home to Chicago and be killed because he turned a patron away from the hookah lounge?,” expressed McAllister’s sister in an interview with ABC7 following the tragic incident.
After the 2023 shooting, Alderman Brian Hopkins (2nd) requested the closure of Lyon’s Den. However, then-Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown did not take any action. Subsequently, the club agreed in March 2023 to enhance security measures and restrict BYOB alcohol consumption.
About two months following the shooting incident, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) made an announcement that they were on the lookout for a 31-year-old parolee named Jimmy Chamberlain, who was believed to be involved in the shooting. Chamberlain had been on parole for precisely three years, having served half of a 21-year sentence for an armed home invasion.
Chamberlain was apprehended by authorities during the previous summer and is presently incarcerated, awaiting trial on a total of 12 felony charges. These charges include eight counts of murder and four counts of attempted murder.