River Forest Police Chief James O’Shea denied social media reports that the death of a woman on Feb. 6 was a homicide, despite tweets that said otherwise.
“No indication of homicide,” O’Shea wrote in an email to Wednesday Journal. “Misreported on social media.”
The woman’s death in a home on Keystone Avenue was first made public on Twitter by Oak Park Scanner, an account unaffiliated with either the Oak Park or River Forest police departments.
“Homicide report. An altercation led to a 32-year-old woman being shot to death,” the account tweeted at 6:30 p.m.
The tweet, which correctly stated the location of the incident, quickly racked up more than 19,000 views. Several people commented on the post offering prayers for the deceased and speculation into what occurred.
The Cook County Medical Examiner has confirmed that a person had died at the Keystone Avenue location at 6:10 p.m. on Feb. 6. An autopsy was scheduled for Feb. 7.
River Forest police continue to investigate the death. A statement released by the department stated there is no threat to the community.
