KANKAKEE: A mass shooting at a New Year's Day party in Kankakee, Illinois, resulted in the deaths of two individuals and injured five others, according to local police reports. The incident occurred early Wednesday morning, prompting a swift response from law enforcement and emergency services.

According to Anadolu Agency, police arrived at the scene around 4:05 a.m. at 1845 Pierson Parkway, responding to reports of gunfire in the southern part of the city. Upon arrival, officers discovered four gunshot victims who were promptly transported to nearby hospitals. Additionally, three others injured in the shooting sought medical care independently.

The Kankakee County Coroner's office identified the deceased victims as 22-year-old Quaysean T. Isom from Kankakee and 20-year-old Trevontae Ellis from Pembroke Township. Authorities recovered two firearms and numerous shell casings from the scene, indicating the severity of the incident.

A suspect was apprehended at the scene after being discovered hiding inside the house where the party took place. The individual was taken into custody for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

Kankakee Mayor Chris Curtis expressed his distress and sorrow over the tragic event, stating, "I am heartbroken over this for our community and the families." Mayor Curtis emphasized that the shooting could have been prevented, noting that the party had been ongoing for several hours and had been previously requested to stop due to noise complaints.

The mayor also highlighted the lack of cooperation from attendees, many of whom claimed not to have witnessed the shooting. "What is more troubling is most of the attendees are not cooperating with police or saying they didn't see anything. We have to do better, Kankakee!" he urged.