James Romero, 18, was watching TV around 1:20 a.m. when several shots were fired from outside the home in the 200-block of South 45th Street in the western suburb. The bullets traveled through a window, striking Romero, who was pronounced dead at a Melrose Park hospital.
"We believe there are several recent incidents of gang violence in the area. We believe this is in retaliation for one of those incidents," Jay Militello, Northlake Police Department, said.
"We don't like the gangs. People think there are not gangs in the suburbs, but there are," Wayne Warren, neighbor, said.
Police say five of Romero's relatives were at home at the time of the shooting. They identify another relative as a gang member.
No one else was injured and the family is not commenting.
Police say they are working with other jurisdictions in the area in the investigation and have several leads. No one has been arrested.
