CBS
OAK FOREST, Ill. (CBS) — A gunman killed three people in southwest suburban Oak Forest Friday morning, and then police found his body inside a home after a fire.
As CBS 2’s Sabrina Franza, the incident happened around 6:30 a.m. The scene was still roped off with crime scene tape hours later, and few words could describe it other than “tragedy.”
According to Oak Forest police, two people were found shot in the driveway of the home in the 5500 block of Ann Marie Lane. A third person was found in the street just to the south of the house. Police were able to move the victims, and ambulances transported them to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The man believed to be the gunman was found dead inside the home after the fire was put out.
A child, police said, was able to escape from the home. It was just after the child was removed from the house that it was engulfed by fire – and smoke began pouring out.
The incident forced residents to say in their homes for several hours. A few hours later, that order was lifted.
Video from a Ring camera nearby showed people running from the home and a man chasing after them. Suddenly at least two people running away collapsed to the ground. The video, which was viewed by CBS 2, did not include audio.
Late Friday, there were still many unanswered questions. We do not know for certain who was inside the home or who the shooter was.
Neighbors witnessed the tragedy unfolding inside the home and on the driveway. They said this was a family that is now forever changed.
“My husband left to work really early this morning. He did see a body on the floor,” said neighbor Sirena Velazquez. “We were all confused. This is a very quiet neighborhood; very quiet street, actually. So if something that happens, it’s football games across the street for the kids.”
Another neighbor said his wife woke up to gunshots.
“At around 6:20, 6:30, my wife shakes me awake, she tells me she thinks she heard a gunshot,” neighbor Jake Bittner told CBS 2. “Disbelief, disgust, just bothered.”
Bittner told CBS 2 he ran out of his house and saw the flames and black smoke. He said officers told residents to stay back.
Chopper 2 was over the scene where SWAT teams and fire crews were working to clear the scene. Heavy smoke was coming from a house.
Central Avenue from Independence to 155th Street, and 155th Street from Long Avenue to Central Avenue, were closed to traffic after the incident.
High School District 228 confirmed the Oak Forest High School Homecoming parade was canceled.
