A tragic incident occurred at an Illinois elementary school when a veteran custodian allegedly shot a female colleague before committing suicide, as reported by authorities.
A 63-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, both custodians identified by their union, were found with fatal gunshot wounds to their heads at Mark Twain Elementary School at approximately 3:40 p.m. on Monday, according to a spokesperson from the Chicago Police Department.
Police reports, as seen by the Chicago Sun-Times, suggest that the male custodian allegedly approached the female colleague from behind in a school hallway and shot her in the head.
Subsequently, the custodian went to the school’s office and shot himself, the police report states.
Both custodians were taken to local hospitals in critical condition but were later pronounced dead, according to police.
The 63-year-old custodian was reportedly upset about being “relocated” after working at the school for 20 years, as noted in the police report.
“In the hallway, we have one female,” an individual is heard saying in police radio communications obtained by WLS.
The audio continues, “The shooter shot himself in the head. There is a firearm right next to the offender.”
Mark Twain Elementary School confirmed the shooting in a statement to the Sun-Times, acknowledging the incident occurred within the school premises.
A statement to the community expressed deep regret, acknowledging the shooting’s impact on the school community.
“We know this news will be deeply concerning to our families and staff. We will work to provide additional information to the school community as the investigation proceeds,” the statement said, emphasizing the seriousness with which they are handling the situation.
Students were not present in the building at the time, as classes in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood school are set to commence in a couple of weeks.
Jacob Hernandez, a former student of the school, recounted to WBBM seeing two individuals being taken out on stretchers amid a large police and fire department presence as he passed by the scene.
“I saw two people on a stretcher. They were trying to resuscitate somebody,” Hernandez said. “And I heard this guy, he was telling me he heard a girl screaming.”
Felicia Puga expressed her fear of sending her daughter Luna, a soon-to-be second-grader, to the school when it starts on August 24.
“How are we supposed to send our kids to school knowing something like this could happen potentially again?” Puga said.
“Now I’m questioning if I should even send her, and hopefully there’s a school nearby, but we’re not in the district for it,” she said. “So we’re hoping maybe I can get her into that school, because something is not right here.”
Trumaine Reeves, the executive vice president of the union representing the custodians, conveyed condolences, stating, “The only facts we know right now are that two families have lost a loved one and our prayers are with their families, and the staff, students, and families at Mark Twain Elementary School.”
The SEIU Local 73 union and Mark Twain Elementary School did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
The incident is currently under investigation.
