A convicted felon opened fire with a handgun in a crowded North Side Chicago neighborhood just blocks from Wrigley Field, sending shockwaves through fans celebrating a Cubs playoff victory. Hoytuan Pierce, 33, of Chicago, discharged the weapon during a heated dispute in the 3400 block of North Clark Street on October 13, 2015, around 11:30 p.m., federal prosecutors confirm.
No one was struck in the gunfire, but the incident sparked panic in an area packed with revelers. The chaos came mere hours after the Chicago Cubs defeated the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field, sealing their spot in the National League Championship Series. The celebratory mood turned tense as police descended on the scene, launching an immediate investigation into the source of the shots.
Pierce, already a convicted felon, was barred from possessing any firearm under federal law. Despite that, he carried and discharged a handgun during the confrontation, triggering a federal prosecution. He now admits to the crime, signing a plea declaration on the charge of being a felon-in-possession of a firearm — a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 922(g).
The charge carries a maximum penalty of ten years in federal prison. U.S. District Judge Elaine E. Bucklo has scheduled sentencing for April 7, 2017. Pierce remains free on bond pending that date, though prosecutors could push for immediate incarceration given the nature of the offense.
The guilty plea was announced by Zachary T. Fardon, then United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, alongside George Lauder, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Field Division of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson. Authorities emphasized that illegal gun possession in high-traffic public areas will be met with swift federal action.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Cornelius Vandenberg and Ankur Srivastava are prosecuting the case. Court records show Pierce has a prior felony conviction, the details of which are sealed, but sufficient to trigger enhanced penalties under federal gun laws. The case underscores ongoing concerns over gun violence and illegal firearm circulation in Chicago, especially during high-profile public events.
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Key Facts
- State: Illinois
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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