3 Stabbed, 16 Trampled Fleeing Navy Pier Fireworks

CHICAGO — Three people were stabbed during an altercation following the 4th of July fireworks at Chicago's Navy Pier on Thursday, and another 16 people were hospitalized after being trampled running for the exits when someone reportedly threw firecrackers, Chicago police said.

Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said reports that a shooting occurred during the melee are inaccurate.

In addition to the stabbings and the trampling victims, Guglielmi said another person was hurt when he punctured his leg running into a table at Navy Pier.

Early Friday morning, Chicago police said a fight broke out at around 10:10 p.m. "after gang signs were being flashed," and several people were stabbed. A 14-year-old boy was stabbed in the arm and rib, and a 15-year-old boy was stabbed in the armpit, police said. Both were taken to Lurie children's hospital in stable condition.

Another victim, a 30-year-old man who was not involved in the fight, was stabbed in the face and arm, but police said he could not remember any details of being stabbed and did not see the offender. He was taken to Northwestern hospital in stable condition.

Police initially believed another 16-year-old boy was stabbed, but later said the teen punctured his leg after running into a table. He was at Northwestern in stable condition.

As of just before 6 a.m., police said two unknown male offenders were still at large.

Police also said an unknown person threw what was believed to be firecrackers, sending people running for the exits and resulting in the trampling injuries. The stampede reportedly happened near Harry Caray's Tavern.

"It was the scariest thing ever," witness Lucila Pulido told WLS. "We saw people running with strollers, there's shoes everywhere, people just ran for their lives."

Police said none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.