'Mishandled' Gun Accidentally Fires, Wounding 3 Women At Hotel

CHICAGO, IL — Three women were grazed when a "mishandled" gun accidentally went off Friday morning in a hotel lobby on Wacker Drive, according to Chicago police. The victims' wounds were not life threatening, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

The accidental shooting happened at around 10 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency hotel, 150 E. Wacker Dr., police said. Two of the women were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and another was treated at the scene.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the gun fell out of the pocket of a 24-year-old guest and went off in the hotel lobby. Sources told the Tribune that the man had allegedly been smoking marijuana in his room and was being escorted to the service desk when the gun fired.

The shot sprayed floor fragments at the women, who were hurt by the shrapnel, the report stated. The man then picked up the gun, aimed it at security guards and fled, the report added.

Police were still searching for the guest and knew his identity — a south suburban man with past theft and burglary convictions, the report stated. A gun allegedly belonging to the guest was found on Lower Wacker Drive, sources told the Tribune.

More via the Chicago Tribune

Patch will continue to update this story.

Photo via Shutterstock