In the early hours of Wednesday morning, a Texas delegate attending the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago was robbed at gunpoint in the city’s troubled downtown area. The delegate was walking with a friend around 2 a.m. when two masked men in a dark blue Range Rover approached, demanding their belongings under the threat of violence.

The suspects, described as two Black males dressed in black and wearing ski masks, have been linked to several other robberies in Chicago. After robbing the delegate, they crossed the street and targeted two additional victims before fleeing the scene.

Chicago police issued a community alert on Thursday, asking for any tips that could help identify the suspects. The robbery took place just as the DNC kicked off, putting a spotlight on Chicago’s surging crime rates. The city, which was dubbed “the murder capital” in 2023, has seen almost 1,400 shootings and 344 murders this year.

The robbery is part of a broader trend of violence plaguing Chicago. Over the recent weekend alone, the city witnessed 26 shooting incidents that left 30 people wounded and five dead. Even as Chicago plays host to a major political event, the pervasive crime continues to raise concerns about safety in the city.