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American Morning
Chicago Nightclub Tragedy Kills 20
Aired February 17, 2003 - 07:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: At least 14 people are dead after an early-morning stampede at a nightclub on the south side of Chicago. Police say a disturbance prompted hundreds inside the dance club to rush for exits, but they couldn't find their way out.
Let's go to Marcella Raymond of affiliate WGN in Chicago for the very latest.
Good morning -- Marcella.
MARCELLA RAYMOND, CNN AFFILIATE WGN REPORTER: Good morning, Paula.
You know, the death toll continues to rise out here. Now, it stands at 20 people dead, and we've got at least 5 to 10 critically injured and about 30 more who have suffered minor injuries.
There were 1,500 people inside the E2 (ph) Nightclub at about 2:00 this morning. It started when a fight broke out between three women. Security guards sprayed a combination of Mace and pepper spray to break that fight up. That caused panic, and the second floor of this club, everyone tried to get out on the only staircase that was inside. People, we are told, witnesses tell us, were trampled, as these 1,500 people stampeded towards the front door.
People were falling all over each other, getting crushed beneath 30 to 40 people. The fire department got here quickly to get all of those people out.
Paramedics gave oxygen and CPR to dozens of people. It was just a horrible scene here.
And, Paula, even more tragic is the fact that the fire department tells us the back door to this club was locked at the time. Firefighters had to physically break down that door in order to get in, and they say it definitively contributed to this death toll, which could certainly rise even more this morning.
ZAHN: Oh, that is just horrible. I know we've been reporting at least 14 dead. Marcella now confirming for us that police believe now at least 20 dead, scores of others injured.
Marcella, thanks for the update. We'll keep an eye on this throughout the morning.
RAYMOND: You're welcome.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired February 17, 2003 - 07:55 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: At least 14 people are dead after an early-morning stampede at a nightclub on the south side of Chicago. Police say a disturbance prompted hundreds inside the dance club to rush for exits, but they couldn't find their way out.
Let's go to Marcella Raymond of affiliate WGN in Chicago for the very latest.
Good morning -- Marcella.
MARCELLA RAYMOND, CNN AFFILIATE WGN REPORTER: Good morning, Paula.
You know, the death toll continues to rise out here. Now, it stands at 20 people dead, and we've got at least 5 to 10 critically injured and about 30 more who have suffered minor injuries.
There were 1,500 people inside the E2 (ph) Nightclub at about 2:00 this morning. It started when a fight broke out between three women. Security guards sprayed a combination of Mace and pepper spray to break that fight up. That caused panic, and the second floor of this club, everyone tried to get out on the only staircase that was inside. People, we are told, witnesses tell us, were trampled, as these 1,500 people stampeded towards the front door.
People were falling all over each other, getting crushed beneath 30 to 40 people. The fire department got here quickly to get all of those people out.
Paramedics gave oxygen and CPR to dozens of people. It was just a horrible scene here.
And, Paula, even more tragic is the fact that the fire department tells us the back door to this club was locked at the time. Firefighters had to physically break down that door in order to get in, and they say it definitively contributed to this death toll, which could certainly rise even more this morning.
ZAHN: Oh, that is just horrible. I know we've been reporting at least 14 dead. Marcella now confirming for us that police believe now at least 20 dead, scores of others injured.
Marcella, thanks for the update. We'll keep an eye on this throughout the morning.
RAYMOND: You're welcome.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
