BREAKING NEWS: Three people are shot dead by ‘active shooter’ at bowling alley in Illinois

Three people have been shot dead and a further three are injured after a man went on the rampage at a bowling alley in Illinois in what authorities believe was a random attack.

The shooting happened just before 7pm at Don Carter Lanes in the city of Rockford about 90 minutes northwest of Chicago.    

At least two teenagers were shot. It’s not known if the people shot and killed were employees or guests at the bowling alley. 

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Rockford Police Chief Dan O’Shea says three people have been shot dead and a further three are  injured after a man went on the rampage at a bowling alley in Illinois

The bowling alley asked people on Facebook to pray as the shooter rampaged through the venue

The shooting took place at the bowling alley’s bar, Shooters Bar & Grill 

Rockford police and other law enforcement agencies investigate on the outdoor deck of a second-floor bar area after a shooting at the bowling alley on Saturday in Rockford

Officers from multiple agencies including the Rockford Police Department and the Illinois State Police have been on the scene on Saturday evening

Police say around 6.55pm on Saturday, they received a call that someone had opened fire in an outdoor bar area of the bowling alley according to a police press conference given in the hours after the shooting. 

When police arrived, they found multiple victims and a person of interest who is now in custody.

As a result, there is no longer any ‘active threat’ to the area.

O’Shea said that the investigation was ‘very, very fluid’ and still ongoing.

The bowling alley has been closed since late November due to coronavirus restrictions but the bar has remained open

The shooting happened just before 7pm at Don Carter Lanes in the city of Rockford about 90 minutes northwest of Chicago.

Rockford Police Chief Dan O’Shea, left, walks to a media staging area at the scene of a shooting

The chief also noted that the State’s Attorney’s Office is now involved and that no officers fired their weapons during the arrest of the suspect.

Don Carter lanes posted on Facebook at around 7.20pm a status saying ‘Pray please’.

Officers from multiple agencies including the Rockford Police Department and the Illinois State Police have been on the scene. 

Amanda Hollenbeck, 24, was at the bowling alley with her boyfriend at the time of the shooting and told DailyMail.com that she was trapped on the balcony area of the venue ordering a drink at the outdoor bar when gunshots rang out.

Amanda Hollenbeck, 24, was at the bowling alley with her boyfriend at the time of the shooting and told DailyMail.com that she was trapped on the balcony area of venue ordering a drink at the bar when gunshots broke out leaving her trapped 

‘So my boyfriend and I were legit just ordering a drink… And heard a loud bang I froze everyone else ran.. he grabbed me and then 3 shots also rang out… An older man was shot in the head.. and another on the other side of the tent on the balcony where I was standing got shot as well… It was terrifying. You hear about shootings but to witness it… man it was scary as f***!’ 

‘I heard a loud bang and froze. I was three steps away from the shooter. If it would’ve been any longer I’d be dead,’ Hollenbeck said. 

Only the bar was open at the bowling alley on Saturday night after the state of Illinois suspended all bowling from November 20.

The bar, Shooters Bar & Grill, has remained open for outside drinking and takeout. 

Rockford, a city of 150,000 people about 80 miles from Chicago, has suffered its deadliest year for homicides, according to records that date back to 1965. 

Thirty-five people have been killed in the city this year, breaking the previous record of 31 in 1996.

Rockford police work on the ground-floor bar area after a shooting at the bowling alley. A ‘person of interest’ was taken into custody after the shooting at Don Carter Lane

At least two teenagers were shot. It’s not known if the people shot and killed were employees or guests at the bowling alley

Don Carter Lanes is a popular place for locals to head to on a Saturday night in Rockford

There are 42 lanes for people to play ten-pin bowling at the Don Carter Lanes