Rosemont police announced about 6:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 30, 2022 that as of 3:15 p.m. the shooting suspect from the March 25the Fashion Outlets of Chicago mall shooting that killed a man and wounded a teen girl is now in custody. Jose G. Matias was taken into custody by the Rosemont police officers without incident. Initially Matias is charged with aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, but police have announced that further updates on charges will be provided when available.
The Rosemont Public Safety Department, with assistance from the Major Case Assistance Team (MCAT) and a number of surrounding law enforcement agencies, has worked to investigate numerous leads surrounding the shooting that took place at the Fashion Outlets of Chicago mall on March 25, 2022. Based on interviews, witness statements and review of surveillance video, enough evidence has been reviewed to identify the shooter as Jose G. Matias an 18-year-old resident of Chicago. A nationwide arrest warrant was issued on Tuesday, March 29, 2022 for the rest of Matias.
The shooting was an isolated incident according to the Rosemont Public Safety Department. The incident stemmed from an argument between two unknown parties involving Joel Valdes and Jose Matias. Joel Valdes, age 20, was killed in the shooting near the food cart where Matias has been observed on surveillance video pulling out a firearm and shooting in the direction of Valdes.
Rosemont Public Safety Department paramedics treated Valdes at the scene and transported him to Level 1 Trauma Center, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was pronounced dead.
A second victim – a 15-year-old female and innocent bystander – was also shot. She was also transported to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. The female teen has since been released from Lutheran General Hospital and is recovering at home.
Following the shooting, Matias left the mall in a maroon 2008 Honda, which was later located in Bellwood by Cook County Sheriffs police. Numerous witnesses have been interviewed since the beginning of the shooting investigation. The witnesses helped identify Matias as the shooter at the mall.
Rosemont police, firefighters and paramedics responded about 7:08 p.m. Friday, March 25, 2022 to a report of a shooting inside Fashion Outlets of Chicago in Rosemont. Police on Friday called the shooting an “isolated shooting” that occurred around the food court. The shooting initially believed to have involved two sparring groups or individuals from Chicago.
Initially there were two crime scenes in the mall — one near the food court and another near the Carter’s store.
Two gunshot victims were known to have been transported by paramedics to a nearby hospital — possibly Level 1 Trauma Center Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge. As soon as they arrived, they were listed in critical condition. One of the victims — an adult male in his 20s — was pronounced dead at the hospital. The other shooting victim — transported by ambulance — was a 15 year-old girl.
The two shooting victims were transported away from the scene by about 7:35 p.m.
Early in the investigation, police indicated there was possibly a third gunshot victim considered to be a suspect that fled the scene. Unverified information also indicated that there had been another suspect that may have been captured in Chicago. Police announced Tuesday, March 29, 2022 that no additional arrests or warrants had been issued as of Tuesday.
Policed believe that no shooter suspects were on the scene when they arrived, but police searched the mall as a precaution. Employees and shoppers took cover inside stores, and others were evacuated immediately. Some people were still being evacuated as late as 9:30 p.m. A siren alarm in the mall was activated while people were evacuated, and was turned off by about 8:15 p.m.
Two witnesses told CARDINAL NEWS they heard four shots; a third witness said they heard six or seven shots. Many people were met by family members in the parking lot east of the mall by Rosemont Theater.
Police set up a reunification area at the Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant, 9546 W. Balmoral Avenue in Rosemont.
An EMS Box Alarm was activated as a precaution in case there were additional victims. Ambulances were on the scene, lined along Outlet Way. Extra ambulances and fire crews left the scene about 9:50 p.m.
Police activated a NIPAS response for SWAT and rescue operations, and an ILEAS response for police support and traffic control. Police squads were still arriving as late as 9:30 p.m..
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