The woman and the children were in her boyfriend's apartment when the lights suddenly flickered, and then two men emerged from the dark. It all unfolded shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday in west suburban Melrose Park.
Police say they have no information regarding the suspects. They say the whole thing appears to be a robbery gone wrong.
Former neighbor Bobby McClinic says 28-year old Cleon Wilson left his Maywood home a few months ago to move in with his fiancee and her two children in Melrose Park.
"They were trying to make a go of it, just like everybody else who strike out and get out on your own," McClinic said.
Sunday, Wilson was gunned down inside his new apartment, when police say he came home just before 4 p.m. to find his fiancee and her children being held at gunpoint by two men.
No arrests have been made, but Monday morning ABC 7's Jason Knowles spoke to one neighbor who thinks she may have seen at least one of the suspects moments after the shooting.
"I saw a gentleman run from between the two buildings down the street over there... He got into a car and took off eastbound," the neighbor said.
Melrose Park evidence techs were back on the scene Monday afternoon to go through a basement apartment after the woman who lives there came home from a weekend away to find her things had been moved around and a kitchen window lock broken. The woman would not go on camera, but she told ABC 7 she believes that is how the suspects who shot Wilson got in.
The building's owner confirms that no doors were forced open.
"All the doors have a code in order to get in. So somebody knew the code to get into the basement or somebody left a door open," said landlord Felix de la Rosa.
Police confirmed they believe the suspects may have entered through that basement apartment window. The resident of that apartment said nothing appears to be missing from her apartment.
