Felon arrested in connection with mass shooting at Chicago Halloween party

[November 01, 2023]  By Andrew Hensel | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Police have arrested a suspect in connection to the mass shooting in Chicago early Sunday morning that left 15 injured.

The shooter was a felon who was not supposed to be able to access a firearm.

Early Sunday morning, the alleged shooter, 48-year-old William Groves, fired at a group of nearly 100 people during a Halloween celebration, according to police. Groves allegedly opened fire on the group after being previously asked to leave the event.

Groves was arrested shortly after the incident that injured 15, but his information was not released until Tuesday.

Groves had prior convictions for carjacking and attempted murder.

Groves has been charged with fifteen counts of attempted first-degree murder, fifteen felony counts of aggravated battery with discharge of a firearm and a slew of other related charges, according to Police Superintendent Larry Snelling.

"He is a convicted felon who shouldn't of had a gun," Snelling said. "Again, he is a convicted felon who should not have had a gun."

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said Graves will not be released from jail due to his threat to the community.

Chicago Police Department / Facebook

"The state's attorney's office has filed a petition to have him detained pretrial such that he is a threat to those in the community and needs to be detained before his trial," Foxx said.

Snelling said after the arrest, his focus was on helping the victims and their families.

"Though this arrest brings a measure of justice to the 15 victims and all who witnessed this violence that night, the trauma remains," Snelling said. "I want to focus, and we need to focus on the victims and the support for them moving forward."

Mayor Brandon Johnson thanked police for their efforts and said changes will be made to address crime.

"We are going to hold individuals accountable who create havoc and harm in our communities," Johnson said. "That accountability is on display right now."

In July, another mass shooting in North Lawndale left eight injured.

The city also had mass shootings on Juneteenth and the Fourth of July.