A Texas delegate attending the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago was held at gunpoint and robbed early Wednesday morning in the city’s downtown area. The delegate was walking with a friend around 2 a.m. when two masked men in a dark blue Range Rover confronted them. The gunmen demanded their belongings, threatening to shoot if they didn’t comply.
After robbing the delegate, the assailants crossed the street and targeted two more victims before fleeing. The suspects have been described as two Black males dressed in black and wearing ski masks, armed with a semi-automatic handgun. Authorities suspect the pair is connected to a series of robberies that have recently occurred in Chicago.
Chicago police issued a community alert on Thursday, asking residents to provide any information that could assist in capturing the suspects. The robbery comes as Chicago hosts the DNC, where major political figures gather, but the city’s ongoing crime crisis continues to dominate local concerns.
Chicago, which was labeled “the murder capital” of the U.S. in 2023, has seen nearly 1,400 shootings and 344 murders so far this year. Just last weekend, the city experienced 26 shooting incidents, leaving 30 people injured and five dead. The violent atmosphere persists even as Chicago tries to present itself as a welcoming host for one of the most significant political events of the year.
