Active shooter drill planned Tuesday at Water Tower Place

CHICAGO - First responders converged on Water Tower Place on the Magnificent Mile Tuesday for an active shooter drill.

The drill started about 6 a.m. at the shopping center, 835 N. Michigan Ave., prompting road closures and detours in the area, Chicago police said.

It took place indoors on three floors of Water Tower Place and ended shortly after 8 a.m., according to the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications. All streets have since been reopened.

The drill was “part of the City’s public safety departments’ regular training schedule cycle,” OEMC wrote in a statement. It was a joint exercise between police, OEMC and Water Tower Place security.

“These exercises further enhance the City’s overall readiness, response and recovery efforts for the safety and security of our residents and visitors here in Chicago,” OEMC wrote. “They also ensure that we are prepared to enact plans swiftly to mitigate the impact during emergencies by coordinating and communicating with key partners about roles and responsibilities.”

All of the building’s tenants were notified about the drill in advance, OEMC said. Signs were also posted at each entrance along with a CPD officer to notify anyone entering the building about the drill.

The drill comes over a month after 22 people were killed in a shooting at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.