Colorado state legislator witnesses shooting at White Palace Grill in South Loop

Colorado State Rep. Javier Mabrey was enjoying breakfast at the White Palace Grill in the South Loop early Friday when he heard a “very, very loud noise.”

“We were just sitting there eating pancakes when all of a sudden we heard a very, very loud noise and gunshots at close range that definitely came from the restaurant,” Mabrey, 34, told the Sun-Times.

According to Chicago police, a 42-year-old man was leaving the popular bar at 1159 S. Canal Street around 3 a.m. when someone shot him multiple times and then fled.

Someone drove the victim to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was listed in fair condition, police said.

Mabrey, a gun violence prevention activist, was having dinner with two friends. All three were in town to attend the Democratic National Convention. At first, Mabrey said, he thought it was a mass attack.

“We live in constant fear of gun violence,” Mabrey said. “I have friends who have lost loved ones in mass shootings, and that's something that's always in the back of my mind.”

The shooting did not change Mabrey's perception of Chicago, he said, adding that he would definitely come back.

“I love Chicago, I think [gun violence] is not a unique problem,” Mabrey said. “Gun violence is almost universal in this country.”

Throughout the Democratic National Convention, Mabrey wore a DNC badge that read “Freedom from Gun Violence,” and he was still wearing it at the time of the shooting.

“We must do everything in our power to feel safe from gun violence,” Mabrey said.

The White Palace Grill was open for breakfast Friday morning. At about 9:30 a.m., a manager said no one assigned to handle the morning rush was on duty at the time of the shooting. The manager declined to answer further questions from a reporter.

According to a sign on the outside of the building, the restaurant was featured in Guy Fieri's “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.”

No arrests have been made. Detectives from Area 3 are investigating.