UPDATED: Sunday, July 12 at 2:26 p.m.
Two people are dead and three others were wounded following what began as a domestic violence incident in River Forest on Sunday morning. Two police officers were among those wounded by gunfire in the incident, which took place at 116 Lathrop Ave. at about 7:20 a.m. The police officers’ injuries were described as non-life threatening.
River Forest Deputy Police Chief James O’Shea identified a 24-year-old man who lives at the home as the “armed assailant” who fired upon police when they arrived at the home after the man’s mother called 911, reporting she was suffering shortness of breath.
The woman’s son is suspected of shooting both his mother and a 60-year-old man, whose relationship with the family has not yet been confirmed, prior to police arriving on the scene.
As police approached the house, the 24-year-old man “ambushed” the officers, said O’Shea, firing a shotgun at them. O’Shea said a sergeant, who is a 15-year veteran of the force, was hit in his bulletproof vest by the flak from the shotgun. The other officer, a 5-year veteran officer, sustained unspecified injuries.
O’Shea confirmed that the 24-year-old man and the 60-year-old man were both dead. The alleged assailant’s mother suffered what O’Shea described as “gunshots and additional trauma.” Her condition is unknown.
Police offered no motive for the shooting, saying that information was being investigated and that more information would likely be available later Sunday evening.
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The website Chicago Fire Map has posted audio of police and fire calls from River Forest Sunday monring which suggest that the shooting incident Sunday involving River Forest police may have started as a domestic violence call from the home at 116 Lathrop Ave. rather than the serving of warrants as initally beleived.
The call to police beginning at 7:19 a.m came from a woman in the house reporting a person with shortness of breath. After multiple hangups police arrived at the scene where according to the website they were met by a person with a shotgun and shots ensued. The website reports that two officers were hit by flak from the shotgun.
A police press conference is expected shortly. Further updates will follow.