Loop shooting victim Steven LaVoie still in critical condition

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Friday, August 1, 2014
LaVoie remains hospitalized
The family of Steven LaVoie thanked people for prayers the day after the ArrowStream CEO was shot in his Loop office.

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Steven LaVoie, CEO of ArrowStream, remains hospitalized in critical, but stable condition the day after he was shot twice by an employee inside his Loop office.

The alleged gunman, Tony DeFrances, turned the gun on himself after shooting LaVoie on Thursday morning. He was pronounced dead at the scene on the 17th floor of the Bank of America Building.

DeFrances was head of technology at ArrowStream before being demoted one week ago. He and LaVoie had worked together for more than a decade.

LaVoie is hospitalized at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. His family began a website to keep people updated and thank them for prayers and support.

At the Bank of America Building, workers are returning to their offices.

"Yesterday morning, he gets up just like I did this morning. And he goes to work," Annie Smith, who works on the fifth floor of the Bank of America Building, said. "I mean you go to your job and you're cut down like that for nothing."

"It's, I guess, alarming that it could occur as close to you. Not the norm. But a part of life," Percy Halbert said.

Chicago police emphasize this was an isolated incident. In a statement, LaVoie's family called it a "horrifying personal tragedy" for two families.