A sudden flash of light and a thunderous explosion left midwest residents wondering if the war had come to the far south suburbs of Chicago on Wednesday night.

This larger chunk was found in Garza's son's room after the shower.

The force of the falling meteor chunk caused this damage to the ceiling of a Park Forest home.

Scientists are now gathering fragments, urging the public to turn over any pieces found for further study.

Residents from 4 States Report Seeing Bright Light

PARK FOREST, Ill. -- A freelance photographer shooting a fire in south suburban Park Forest captured a bright flash of light (pictured, left) that "turned midnight to noon" for several seconds, and police said it appeared it was the breaking up of a meteorite.

Huge chunks of rock-like objects from the suspected meteorite damaged the roofs of two homes, but nobody was injured. Park Forest Police Captain Francis DioGuardi said a large chunk also landed on a residential street and broke apart, slightly damaging the siding of another home.

People in several states throughout the Midwest reported seeing a bright flash of light in the sky last night. NBC5's Kim Vatis said that besides Illinois, reports came from Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. The National Weather Service agreed that the flash of light was caused by either a meteorite or piece of space debris.