Chicago, Feb 17: Hundreds of people stormed the exits of a crowded Chicago night club after a disturbance broke out early today, killing at least 14 people and leaving several others injured, police said. "Everybody smashed; people crying, couldn't breathe," said clubgoer Reggie Clark. "Two ladies next to me died. A guy under me passed out." There were more than 1,500 people in the two-story epitome night club on Chicago's south side when someone released pepper spray or mace into the air some time after 2 AM., fire commander will knight said.

"It appears a disturbance from within led to a mass chaos where people headed for the door. Most of the fatalities appear to have been crushed or had injuries due to suffocation," said police officer Ozzie Rodriguez.


Rodriguez said 14 people were killed.


Cory Thomas, 33, of Chicago went to the club about 3 AM to pick up two friends. As he waited outside, he saw people inside the club start to back up against the glass front door.


"You could see a mound of people. People were stacking on top of each other, screaming and gagging, I guess from the pepper spray. The door got blocked because there were too many people stacked up against it," he said.

"I saw them taking out a pregnant woman," Thomas said. "She was in bad shape. I saw at least 10 lifeless bodies."

Knight said the total number of injuries was unclear because many of those with minor injuries were being taken to hospitals by family and friends.
The melee marks one of the nation's deadliest stampedes. Bureau Report