Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Sun-Times
National
Emmanuel Camarillo

Lyft driver charged with firing gun in South Loop movie theater in dispute with passenger

(Adobe stock photo)

A ride-hailing driver allegedly fired a gun inside a crowded South Loop movie theater over the weekend in a dispute with a passenger over an unpaid fare, prosecutors said. 

Babacar Mbengue, 35, of Oakland on the South Side, is charged with one count of reckless discharge of a firearm, Chicago police said. 

Mbengue appeared in court Sunday and was ordered held on $350,000 bail.

The incident unfolded about 7:30 p.m. Saturday when Mbengue dropped off the passenger at the ShowPlace ICON Theatre, 1011 S. Delano Ct., according to a police report.

The 16-year-old got out of the vehicle without paying for the Lyft ride, and Mbengue followed the teen inside the theater, according to police.

Mbengue and the teen began to struggle, and the altercation continued up a set of escalators, police said. During the tussle, the teen dropped a loaded 9 mm handgun with an extended magazine.

Mbengue allegedly picked up the gun and unleashed a volley of gunfire inside the theater, police said.

No injuries were reported. The movie theater was evacuated and closed for the night.

The teen was charged with one felony count of aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, police said.

Mbengue is expected back in court April 17.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.