People online are in shock following an incident in which a man pointed a gun at the head of a reporter while she was live on-air.
The incident occurred in Chicago while Joanie Lum was reporting for local Fox affiliate Fox 32's Good Morning Chicago morning show.
While Lum was on a downtown Chicago street corner reporting on, of all things, the city's rampant troubles with gun violence, a man came up behind her and pointed a gun both at the cameraman and at Lum's head from just inches away.
See the moment below.
Though the moment is blink-and-you-miss-it fast, stills and slowed-down footage reveal the man was carrying what Chicago police believe is a gun.
The incident occurred in the River North area of the city, an upscale section of downtown Chicago known for its hip restaurants and posh condos—not the usual section of the city to see incidents of gun violence.
But the incident also comes on the heels of a wave of shootings in the city.
A sixteen-year-old boy was killed in the city's Millennium Park earlier this month, an incident that was followed shortly thereafter by a 12-hour period in which three other teenagers were shot.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot has responded by instituting a 10 p.m. curfew for minors in the city.
Chicago Police have released several photos and a description of the man who aimed his gun at Lum and her camera team, but he has yet to be identified or apprehended.
On Twitter, people were disturbed by the incident, including many of Lum's colleagues and fellow journalists.
Please take time to look and share this post.
A man pointed a gun at my Fox 32 Chicago co-workers during a live shot in River North. We need to identify him. https://t.co/Z8jrmW3lSW
— Sally Schulze (@sally_schulze) May 25, 2022
Thank God Joanie is OK. Chicago police search for man who pointed gun at FOX 32 crew during a live report in River Northhttps://t.co/m3lvWgTs04
— Roseanne Tellez (@RoseanneTellez) May 26, 2022
Supporting @JoanieLum and her colleague.
Live shots are no easy task. The last thing reporters need is to be heckled or threatened. The next time you see a live shot, respect the craft. @chicagosmayor @sagaftra @chicago https://t.co/n6fXSXMdMf
— Cesar Rodriguez (@56Crodriguez) May 26, 2022
This is terrifying.
Fox 32 in Chicago says police are searching for man who pointed gun at their morning news reporter while she was live on air... talking about gun violence. https://t.co/a8OXcGjFbo
— Jamison Keefover (@JamisonTVNews) May 25, 2022
BIG❤️ to my friend @JoanieLum, a CHI Treasure who's having a day or two. I believe she also just covered what turned out to be the attack on Walking Man. Chicago police believe man pointed gun at FOX 32 crew during a live report in River North https://t.co/DIroyBorOy
— J.J. Tindall (@JJTindall1) May 26, 2022
Horrifying situation for a news crew reporting this morning in Chicago.. 🤦🏼♂️ https://t.co/Ae5PI9ezQG
— Joel Young, CBM (@joel_off_air) May 26, 2022
Chicago Police are calling the man a "person of interest" and plan to charge him with aggravated assault with a firearm.
