52-year-old Arlington Heights Police Officer Michael McEvoy was shot during a violent confrontation at a townhome.
It is a tight-knit community dealing with a situation that could have happened anywhere.
The repair work started Friday afternoon on the home where a woman escaped with her life Thursday night after police say she was taken hostage by her ex-boyfriend, Eric M. Anderson, whom SWAT team members killed after he barricaded himself in the garage.
"He confronted the police, pointed a firearm at officers, at which time the members of the emergency services team fired shots, striking him multiple times," said Commander Andrew Whowell, Arlington Heights Police.
Neighbors say the woman's mother lived at the home with its owner and was the safe harbor to which the 39-year-old fled after being stalked by Anderson. The mother escaped.
"I saw her run down the street, with a terrified look on her face," said Judy Garritano.
Arlington Heights officer Mike McEvoy, a 20-year veteran, was shot in the face responding to the 911 call that came in just before 7:00 last night. Witnesses say he was saved in part by an off duty fire fighter visiting relatives nearby.
"You just want to kind of make sure your family is taken care of, and you just want to hunker down," said Louis Slamowitz.
Just last Sunday, December 8th, McHenry County court approved an order of protection against Anderson. The woman broke off their relationship November 25 and hadn't seen him for the month prior. The order details her fear of being stalked by him electronically and at her work since then, and her testimony that last Friday he followed her to a friend's house.
"I said, 'What do you want from me, leave me alone.' I said, 'Why are you following me?'" the woman said.
More than once, court records show, Anderson contacted her after police warned him to stay away and he was out on bond for violating the order Thursday night.
"It had nothing to do with our neighborhood because it was just something that happened," Garritano said.
The name of the victim has not been released as of late Friday.
Officer McEvoy remains in stable but critical condition at Advocate Lutheran Hospital.
