Shaun Wild, 24, a second-grade teacher at Spring Brook Elementary School and recent North Central College graduate, was killed in a stabbing.
The man charged in connection to the killing, Daniel Olaska, 27, now sits in jail.
"I have had a lengthy police career and never hearing anything that made less sense than this stabbing," said Chief David Dial, Naperville police.
Authorities say Olaska gave a videotaped confession to police about how he fatally stabbed Wild in the chest with a five-inch folding knife. It allegedly happened early Saturday morning at Frankie's Blue Room nightclub in downtown Naperville. Wild's friend Willie Hayes and a bouncer were also hurt. Police say a trivial comment made by Wild's friend to the suspect is what started an argument that quickly ended in murder.
"Words were exchanged regarding the defendant drinking beer out of a wine glass, and that may have been what escalated this verbal disagreement," said DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin.
Hayes was released from the hospital Sunday. His family released a statement saying in part, "We are devastated by the Wild family's loss and wish to express our deepest sympathies."
A message on a sign outside Spring Brook reads, "We have lost someone special." There will be grief counselors on hand Monday.
Chad Allen has a 7-year-old daughter who was in Wild's class.
"It's been hard. Mr. Wild was an awesome teacher for Abby. She had all great things to say about him. He would go to all of the students' sporting events, and he would always make sure he made a personal connection. And I know he's a very special teacher for her," Allen said.
Parents at Spring Brook had to break the news to their children over the weekend.
"It's tough to explain. It's hard for a 7-year-old or an 8-year-old to understand that at this age, and it seems so far, the kids, they deal with it," Allen said.
Olaska has been charged with first-degree murder and has no criminal history. He has been working as a line service manager for the Schaumburg Regional Airport for six months. Olaska's parents are trying to raise bail money after a judge gave their son a $3 million bond.
A Naperville city councilman is calling for better enforcement of the city's liquor laws. He says that two stabbings downtown in one year signify that there is a problem. While he's not saying any liquor law violations played a role in the weekend stabbing, Naperville city councilman Doug Krause said he wants to see more accountability in cases where bars break the rules.
"When these violations come forward and go in front of the liquor commission, they just get a slap on the hand," Krause said. "They don't get threatened to be closed down. I've served under three mayors. Two prior mayors shut people down for a day, two days, maybe three days. We need to enforce the laws that are there."
