Two people are dead and third injured following a shooting Thursday morning outside the Kankakee County courthouse.

       Kankakee City Police Chief Robin Passwater confirmed two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting, which took place in an open area between the courthouse and county jail. The incident was not related to any judicial matter inside the building, Passwater said.

       The chief did not release the names of the victims, saying only that they were both Hispanic men in their 20s. The injured person’s condition was also unknown, though Passswater said he was in surgery.

       “It’s a tragic event for the people of the City of Kankakee,” Passwater said. “We are going to do our best to solve it.”

       The shooting occurred about 9:15 a.m. in downtown Kankakee, a riverfront town located about 60 miles south of Chicago. One suspect immediately surrendered to a Momence police officer at the courthouse for an unrelated matter, while the other fled the scene and was later apprehended by a Kankakee County Sheriff’s deputy, Passwater said.

       Multiple firearms were recovered from the scene, including a long gun, Passwater said. The FBI, Illinois State Police and sheriff’s department are assisting in the investigation, according to the city.

       “At this time, there is no reason to believe there is any threat to our community,” Passwater said.

       Several streets around the stately courthouse were closed as a precaution after the shooting. Nearby schools were also placed on lockdown.

       At Lori’s Diner, a coffee shop popular with courthouse personnel and attorneys, the deadly incident was a topic of conversation all morning. The staff didn’t hear the gun shots, but heard talk about it all morning.

       “I’ve been here 20 years and never seen anything like this before,” waitress Jennifer Winkle said.

       Check back for updates.

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