Two men were fatally shot Tuesday afternoon at Navy Pier by a gunman who authorities believe was a recently fired worker.

Speaking to reporters from the dock, Chicago Police Chief John Hein stressed that authorities do not believe the suspect poses a danger to the public, although the shooter remained at large as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“This was an isolated incident with a disgruntled former employee,” Hein said.

The gunman, who was believed to have been fired on October 14, sought out two employees at about 1:20 p.m. in a nearby loading dock and administrative office at the far end of the pier and fired several shots. weapon.

Both men were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where they died. Their identities were not immediately released.

Hein provided few details about the murder investigation, saying only that authorities are “actively searching” for a person of interest.

Navy Pier Chief Operating Officer Brian Murphy said the facility went into lockdown and notified all tenants of the building of the shooting.

“Once we were able to determine that the offender had left the property, we were able to reopen,” he said.

Hours after the shooting, red crime scene tape blocked the entrance to the loading dock at the far end of the pier, and one officer advised another to “watch out for that blood” as he exited the entrance.

Cars moved out of parking lots along the north end of the pier as construction workers milled around a crane at the far end of the pier. A commander directed the news media away from the crime scene.

People were coming and going from the pier’s main lobby, even as the police were still massing at the entrance.

Navy Pier is considered one of the city’s top tourist attractions, drawing nearly 9 million visitors annually, according to the venue’s website.

Philadelphia visitors Bob and Bobbi Ann Kane, who were staying at the Sable Hotel on the pier, were upbeat as they strolled the pier Tuesday afternoon despite the shocking nature of the shooting.

At the time of the shooting, Bob Kane, 62, was visiting McCormick Place, while Bobbi Ann, 61, who had just left her hotel room, noticed the business closing unexpectedly. She then saw SWAT officers walk by and heard a shelter-in-place order, prompting a call to her husband.

“I was worried,” Bob Kane said. “We couldn’t get here (quickly) enough. So I didn’t know what to do. Then when I got here, I couldn’t get in.” The couple reunited after being stuck for about two hours.

Another out-of-town visitor, Trent Halasek of Cincinnati, said he was walking around the sprawling pier structure and made a quick stop at the Ferris wheel before exiting to find police.

“Then two of the policemen get out of the car and run to the back,” he said. “Then I said, ‘What the hell is going on?’ Several cars pulled up and he saw officers in SWAT gear enter the building.

After a few minutes of panic, Halasek said the situation calmed down. “It’s a little surreal,” he said. “You never think you’ll be somewhere where that happens.”