Workers and travelers described hearing "rapid fire," seeing a violent brawl and "people scattering" early Wednesday when a shooting erupted outside O'Hare Airport, according to videos reviewed by the Sun-Times.Several people began arguing about 12:55 a.m. in the airport when it spilled onto the str eet outside Terminal 2, and a 25-year-old man was shot twice in his lower body, Chicago police said. The man was taken to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge where his condition was stabilized, police said. “Gunshots fired at the airport,’’ said a dispatcher over police radio as the situation began.Six to seven males wearing all black fighting in the terminal “went outside and started shooting,” the dispatcher said. Responding Jefferson Park District police officers asked where exactly it happened."2A," a dispatcher said. "Downstairs in arrivals."Over the air, an officer gave a description of the possible gunman, who had dreadlocks and was in a black SUV. James Van Schaick was in a hotel "right across the way" when he heard a "half-dozen to a dozen shots.""I heard a bunch of rapid fire, and I opened up my curtain and I looked, and I saw people scattering," Van Schaick told Network Video Productions. "I didn’t see [officers] chasing after anybody." Authorities investigate after a man was shot early Wednesday outside Terminal 2 at O’Hare International Airport. | Network Video Productions 1 of 7 Shattered glass where a bullet went through is seen in the arrival area of O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 2 Wednesday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 2 of 7 A worker measures shattered glass outside the arrival area of O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 2, where a man was shot during a fight early Wednesday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 3 of 7 Authorities investigate after a man was shot early Wednesday outside Terminal 2 at O’Hare International Airport. | Network Video Productions 4 of 7 Authorities investigate after a man was shot early Wednesday outside Terminal 2 at O’Hare International Airport. | Network Video Productions 5 of 7 Travelers look as crews board up a shattered window in the arrival area of O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 2, where a gunman shot another man during a fight early Wednesday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 6 of 7 Crews board up shattered glass inside the arrival area of O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 2, where a gunman shot another man during a fight early Wednesday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-Times 7 of 7 Van Schaick, who worked in public safety, said he’d never seen such an event unfold at a public airport."I would say it’s unusual," Van Schaick said. "I’ve never seen it like this before."A bullet from the gunfire shattered a large window several feet from Raquel Barajas, who was in the airport trying to get some rest. "That’s terrifying," Barajas said as she examined the shattered glass."These Dollar Tree earplugs work really well because I have no clue how I did not hear this," Barajas said. "When I woke up and seen all the cops, I was terrified."Barajas emphasized that the earplugs "might’ve saved her life.""Getting up would’ve made me more scared and put me in a worse scenario," Barajas said. "I’m honestly just really grateful to be alive right now."Mahmoud, a worker at O’Hare, saw the violent situation developing in front of him."They start fighting, regular fighting. After that, they [go] in the car, they bring the gun and then start shooting," Mahmoud said. "After that, I hit the ground."Several rifle rounds were recovered at the scene, according to a law enforcement source.As of 5:15 a.m., all lower-level arrival lanes at all terminals at O’Hare were fully open, the Chicago Department of Aviation said in a statement. A person walks in front of shattered glass, where a bullet went through hours earlier, in the arrival area of O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 2, Wednesday, March 12, 2025.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Late Wednesday morning, several travelers expressed fear, shock and sadness about what happened and reflected on what authorities could do to prevent it from happening again. Bryan Saint-Louis sat listening to music feet from where workers boarded up the shattered window. Saint-Louis, a public speaker who flew to Chicago from St. John's, Canada, said he was a "little shocked" to hear about the shooting. "You're always thinking about how these things can be prevented. More so, that was the first thing that came to my mind," Saint-Louis, 34, said. "What are we doing to make a difference?" Saint-Louis suggested an increased police presence at airports worldwide could be one approach. "No matter what time people are coming in, they always want to be safe and want to be in an area they know is supposed to help them," said Saint-Louis, who has relatives who live in the city. "I would hope they take some time to really think about what can be done and not try to put a band-aid on the solution." Neal Teschendorf, who traveled from Manila, Philippines, stands in the arrival area of O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 2, where a gunman shot another man early Wednesday. | Pat Nabong/Sun-TimesPat Nabong/Sun-Times A weary Neal Teschendorf, who was making his way back to his Ohio home after vacationing in the Philippines, said he planned on being cautious about his surroundings as always, and was determined not to "live in fear." "This is routine now," Teschendorf, 55, said of the gun violence. "If it's going to happen, it's going to happen. I'm not gonna stop traveling."Thomas Xavier, who flew in from Houston, kept his hands in his pockets to avoid the chilly wind. "Something happening like that, it's not safe," Xavier, a 50-year-old head chef traveling to Chicago for work, said of the shooting.Xavier recommended keeping entrance checkpoints and checking vehicles to ensure those near terminals aren’t carrying firearms. "If they have this in control, it will be good for the travelers," Xavier said. "We will feel safe."Others at the airport were unaware of the shooting but were relieved to hear the man shot didn’t immediately succumb to his injuries. "I hope his perspective doesn’t change a lot on life and society," Teschendorf said of the man shot. "I'm sorry it happened.""I'm very happy to hear that the person is still alive," Saint-Louis said. "I do pray that they make a full recovery, and I pray that this situation doesn’t make them bitter and think too negatively of the world around them. "I've been through pain, I've seen pain, but I think we're all still able to always rise above the situation."A person was being interviewed as Area 5 detectives continued to investigate. A traveler passes by a shattered window where a bullet went through in the arrival area of O’Hare International Airport’s Terminal 2, where a gunman shot another man during a fight early Wednesday, March 12, 2025.Pat Nabong/Sun-Times ...read more read less