Brookfield Zoo, located 45 minutes away from Highland Park, Illinois, is grappling with an incident forcing closure, and authorities have warned customers to take shelter, after reports of a “potential threat”. 

This comes on the heels of the shooting at the July 4 parade in Highland Park, killing seven and leaving nearly 30 injured. 

The zoo authorities tweeted “Late this afternoon Brookfield Zoo received notice of a potential threat at the zoo. The zoo is now closed however many zoogoers are still sheltering in place on-site”, adding, “Brookfield Police Department is working with Brookfield Zoo Police to actively investigate the situation throughout the park and surrounding area. Out of an abundance of caution, we ask that guests on-site remain sheltered in place until law enforcement provides the all-clear”. 

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They told visitors to “shelter in place”. Calling it a “developing situation”, the zoo authorities added, “follow guidance by emergency responders and police on-site”. 

One individual shared their experience, saying “My family was locked in a bathroom, we called 911 and an officer came and took us safely out. We are all scared and still unsure about what’s going on. But thankful we got out of there.”

The Highland Park incident has left many shaken, and the Brookfield Zoo situation has raised ire online, with one saying that it could either be a gunman or an elephant stampede and considering it is America, they’d go with the former. 

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Illinois, however, has some of the strongest gun laws in the country but the shootings have turned the focus onto gun violence, especially since the US is reeling from the racially motivated Buffalo shooting to the Robb Elementary School shooting at Uvalde, Texas

While the situation is developing, a Twitter user posted a clip of cop cars lined up in front of the zoo, while they look into the matter. 

The zoo has now shared an update saying, “Brookfield Police and Brookfield Zoo Police continue to sweep the premises and are releasing zoogoers, building by building. If you are on-site, please remain patient until law enforcement release you. We will share more information as soon as we receive it.” 

Reports have emerged that the situation may have been triggered by someone calling the suicide hotline and saying they’re inside the zoo with a weapon, and want to take their life. 

FactCheck America shared the same on the Brookfield Zoo tweet. 

Meanwhile, the zoo authorities updated “All zoogoers and staff have now safely exited the zoo, and we thank everyone for their patience and cooperation during this time. We will be hosting a media briefing outside the South Gate at 8:30 PM”. 

Brookfield Zoo authorities in their official press briefing confirmed that the situation had developed when a person called and threatened self-harm. 

They noted the lockdown was put in place after the caller “threatened to do harm to herself and others at the zoo”.