A Second Night of Looting in Bloomington-Normal

Looting began at Kohl’s, located at Eastland Mall, after a large group gathered. (Photo by A.J. Harris)
Looting began at Kohl’s, located at Eastland Mall, after a large group gathered. (Photo by A.J. Harris)

Looting took place in Bloomington-Normal for a second night after the sun went down.

Peaceful protesting over the death of George Floyd in Minnesota while in police custody took place earlier in the day Monday (6/1) in Bloomington-Normal. However, that all changed after 11:00 at night.

People broke the glass entrance of Kohl’s in the Eastland Mall to gain access and steal merchandise before police showed up. The looters as well as people observing fled when police fired teargas into the crowd.

Looters run after police advance on the crowd. (Photo by A.J. Harris/WJBC)
Looters run after police advance on the crowd. (Photo by A.J. Harris/WJBC)

WJBC reports that one onlooker tearfully said of the looting, “This is not us. This is not what we represent.”

Last night there were other stores targeted by looters including Rent-A-Center, located on West Market Street in Bloomington, and Monster Pawn, on South Main in Normal.

Police did make arrests last night in Bloomington-Normal. The exact number of arrests has not been revealed at the time this blog being written.

By: Buck Stevens