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Fired employee charged with murder of two men at Chicago's Navy Pier

1 of 2 | Raylon East, 36, has been charged with first-degree murder in the fatal shootings of two men this week at Chicago's popular tourist attraction Navy Pier, police said Saturday. Photo courtesy of the Chicago Police Department

November 9 (UPI) – Chicago police announced Saturday that they have arrested and charged a fired employee in the shooting deaths of two former colleagues at the city's popular Navy Pier tourist attraction earlier this week.

Raylon East, 36, was arrested Thursday at a location on the city's south side, jailed and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, authorities said in a news release.

East was also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a weapon.

His arrest came two days after 47-year-old Peter Jennings and 52-year-old Lamont Johnson were shot and killed at Navy Pier, a popular tourist destination that attracts millions each year with its famous Ferris wheel, restaurants, theaters, parks and more. which extends far into Lake Michigan.

On Wednesday, police described the gunman, now identified as East, as a “disgruntled employee” who killed the men in the management offices of Levy Restaurants at the Navy Pier loading dock. Chicago Deputy Police Chief Jon Hein told reporters that authorities had identified a person connected to the killings.

As WGN-TV reported, East appeared in Cook County Criminal Court on Saturday and was denied bail.

At the hearing, prosecutors claimed they had video evidence of East shooting the two men in the head at their desks. They claimed he was fired last month for aggressive behavior toward colleagues.

Authorities also said they recovered a gun believed to be the murder weapon after East was seen throwing it into Lake Michigan.

Following the violence, Navy Pier was temporarily closed and a shelter-in-place order was issued.

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