A man from Chicago has been charged with murder following the deadly shooting of two employees at the city’s famous Navy Pier, as reported by authorities on Saturday.
Raylon East, aged 36, faces two counts of first-degree murder along with one count of possessing and using a weapon as a felon due to the shootings that occurred on Tuesday, according to the Chicago Police Department.
East was scheduled for a detention hearing on Saturday. The communications office of the Chicago Police has indicated that they do not have any information regarding the defendant’s legal representation. Additionally, Cook County criminal court records are not accessible online. On Saturday, there was no immediate reply to an email sent to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office inquiring about the identity of East’s attorney.
East was taken into custody on Thursday after police shared surveillance footage showing the suspect entering an office area close to a loading dock at Navy Pier shortly before the shootings transpired on Tuesday. It was reported that East had been terminated from his position at the pier on October 14, where visitors can find shops, restaurants, entertainment options, and the well-known Ferris wheel along Lake Michigan.
According to police reports, East fatally shot Lamont Johnson, 51, and Peter Jennings, 47, before he made his escape. The two victims were later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
Authorities confirmed that East fled the crime scene and evaded capture by using public transportation to leave the area.