A routine morning commute turned into a scene of panic and confusion as a man shot near Union Station in downtown Chicago Thursday, in what police describe as an apparent road rage incident involving a pedestrian.

The shooting unfolded around 8:30 a.m. on Canal Street near Van Buren Street, just steps from Union Station, where crowds of commuters were moving through the busy corridor.

Witness Describes Sudden Violence

Among those nearby was Anya Garrido, who described the moment the calm shattered.

“I heard a bang, just one pop,” she said. “A man who had walked past me just minutes earlier suddenly fell to the ground, crying out.”

She said she then saw a man fleeing the scene, holding a gun and running toward Van Buren Street before disappearing.

Argument Escalates Into Shooting

According to the Chicago Police Department, the victim, a 42-year-old man, became involved in an argument with an unknown individual.

What sparked the dispute remains unclear, but police say the confrontation escalated quickly. The suspect pulled out a weapon and shot the man in the leg.

The attacker then entered a black car parked on Canal Street, just south of Van Buren, and drove away from the scene.

Victim Aided by Bystanders

In the moments after the shooting, bystanders rushed to help. One person used a shirt to apply pressure to the victim’s wound, trying to slow the bleeding until emergency crews arrived.

The injured man was transported to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital, where officials say he is expected to recover.

Heavy Police Response and Ongoing Search

Witness Patrick Opalcz described a rapid law enforcement response.

“Nobody knew what was happening at first,” he said. “A sheriff was there almost immediately, and then police flooded the area right after.”

Authorities believe the suspect’s vehicle may have been a rental and said it was last seen heading west on Interstate 290.

No arrests have been made, but police say they have identified a person of interest and are actively working to locate the suspect.

A Commute Interrupted

The man shot near Union Station incident turned a crowded transit hub into a moment of fear and urgency, where the rhythm of the morning rush was broken by a single gunshot.

As investigators piece together what led to the confrontation, questions remain about how quickly everyday tensions can escalate into violence.