2 dead in Kennedy Expressway shooting ID'd
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Two people are dead after a Sunday morning shooting, Illinois State Police said. This is the 18th expressway shooting so far in 2016.
The victims were identified by the medical examiner's office as Eric Taylor, 43, and Camille Cooley, 36, both of Waukegan, Ill. Police say both died of gunshot wounds to the head and were found already deceased. Police say there were no calls of shots fired. Police received a call about a man slumped over a wheel on the Kennedy.
The circumstances of the shooting are not entirely clear, but state police say around 4:30 a.m. Saturday they found the pair dead inside a silver Chevy Tahoe in a lane of traffic on the northbound Kennedy expressway near Armitage Avenue.
Illinois State Police released an update and are now saying this shooting may be domestic related, and just happened to occur along the expressway.
There was damage to the passenger side window of the car where shots may have entered or exited the vehicle, but that has not be determined yet. Police say a black semi-automatic gun was found on the driver's side floorboard.
There was also a white car found at the scene. Police have not said if that car is connected to the shooting.
All outbound lanes of the Kennedy were closed at Armitage for about five hours while police investigated the shooting.
An autopsy for both Taylor and Cooley is still pending, which should provide police with some answers as to how this shooting transpired.
Taylor's family released a statement saying, "Our community has a crack in its foundation that will be eternally weakened. As the families of both victims mourn we pray for answers and closure as we trust our justice system will, with due diligence help provide that."
Expressway shootings on rise in Chicago
There have already been 18 shootings on expressways this year. And many times, the person shot isn't the intended target.
"Immediately I thought, I've been shot through my window," said Sandy Vilips.
Vilips recalls what it felt like when her car window was shot out in March. She was westbound on the Eisenhower when a bullet came flying through her window, apparently just missing her. She is just one of a growing number of motorists on area expressways who are becoming victims of often random gunshots.
Police say there have been at least 18 shootings on Chicago expressways this year, an increase from previous years. It's unclear what may be prompting the increase. The shooters are often difficult to identify.
In March, Carlos Feliciano was hospitalized after being shot on in his car on the Stevenson Expressway. He believes he was a victim of mistaken identity.
Sandy Vilips may never know who fired a shot at her car or why.
