SHOTS FIRED AT A SOCIALLY DISTANCED PARTY.

I'm not sure how much in-class instruction is going on at Northern Illinois University.  There are enough members of the marching band back in town to, weather permitting (we went from late summer to late fall in about a week over the weekend) conduct outdoor practices.  There are also enough students with time on their hands remaining on hand during the long weekend to ... get into a fight.

[University spokesman] Joe King responded to police investigating shots fired outside Grant Residence Hall.

“At about midnight Sunday, Sept. 6, NIU Police were in Parking Lot O breaking up a fight and dispersing a crowd when an apparent gun shot was heard. There is no evidence that anyone was injured by the gun shot. NIU Police continue to investigate the matter,” King said.

The NIU Police Department announced it is investigating a report of shots fired at 11:45 P.M. Saturday at NIU Parking Lot O outside of Grant Residence Hall, according to an alert sent by the NIU Safe app.

Prior to shots being fired, NIU Police Department and DeKalb Police Department were blocking entrances to New Hall and Grant parking lots in order to contain the amount [c.q.] of people and stop the entrance of more people joining the party happening in Parking Lot O.

The city's newspaper adds no additional information, asks people who might know something to call the tip line.