Crime & Law
Family of Worker Fatally Shot at Navy Pier Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
(Courtesy of Navy Pier Marina)
The family of a worker who was fatally shot at Navy Pier has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the alleged gunman.
Peter Jennings, 47, was a purchasing manager for Levy Restaurants who worked at the popular tourist attraction when he and another man were fatally shot in November 2024, allegedly by disgruntled former Levy employee Raylon East.
Now Jennings’ family is suing East for wrongful death, while naming Navy Pier, Levy and others as respondents in discovery in the case.
“When a life is taken so violently and so publicly, our legal system must respond accordingly,” the family’s attorney Patrick A. Salvi II said in a statement. “While nothing will fill the void (in) the hearts of Peter’s loved ones, the filing of this lawsuit is a step toward justice for the family and will expose any failures that allowed this tragedy to occur.”
Jennings and 51-year-old Lamont Johnson were fatally shot on Nov. 5, 2024, in what Chicago police immediately said had been a “targeted” shooting believed to have been carried out by a disgruntled ex-employee.
Police said the shooting had occurred at around 1:15 p.m. after the suspect allegedly entered a loading dock and opened fire into an office area. Navy Pier was briefly locked down, though site officials at the time said guests were never in danger.
According to the lawsuit complaint, East had been cited by his employer multiple times between August 2022 and October 2024 for “aggressive verbal and physical behavior.” He also had previous convictions for “numerous violent offenses,” the lawsuit states, including battery, aggravated robbery and felony possession of a firearm.
East was ultimately fired from his job in October 2024, according to the complaint.
The lawsuit claims there had been a “personal dispute” between Johnson and East, who allegedly returned to Levy’s Navy Pier offices after he’d been fired and fatally shot Johnson and Jennings.
East was arrested days later and remains in custody at the Cook County Jail while his murder case remains pending.
