Exclusive video shows moments before CPD officer killed; 4 in custody for shooting, sources say

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Surveillance video shared exclusively with ABC7 shows what neighbors said are the moments before Chicago Police Officer Areanah Preston was fatally shot in front of her South Side home.

Neighbors said the video shows Preston pulling up outside her Avalon Park home after her shift early Saturday morning. She turns off the lights to her personal vehicle and crosses South Blackstone Avenue to her family's home. That's when a dark car pulls up, stops, and at least one person jumps out.

"I heard gunshots about 1:30 in the morning and I froze, basically," said Juanita Smith, Preston's neighbor.

Then, the car speeds off. Outside, 24-year-old Preston laid in her family's front yard, shot multiple times.

"I looked out. I didn't see anything. I checked my phone. I didn't see anything," Smith said.

About 30 minutes later, the video shows Chicago police responding to the scene, with SUVs swarming in from every direction. Officers quickly raced back to their cars, speeding off in search of the suspects.

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Neighbors said detectives quickly collected all of this video as part of their investigation. More than 36 hours after that, investigators and SWAT teams surrounded a home Sunday night near 77th and South Bishop, bellowing commands.

"I can see that the street was blocked off. I saw they had the alley blocked off. I saw a blue light," said neighbor Dorn Thornton. "When I brought the lawn mower closer to the house, I saw another blue light. There was about 12-14 police cars on the north end of the block."

The people were arrested after an hours-long standoff, which neighbors watched unfold.

Sources told the ABC7 I-Team that four people are now in custody in connection with the fatal shooting of Chicago Police Officer Areanah Preston. Detectives had cooperation from potential witnesses, which led them to two male and two female suspects who were taken into custody after a SWAT standoff Sunday night. Cameras captured a SWAT team responding to the area of the 7600-block of South Bishop Street.

On Monday night, investigators were back in Preston's neighborhood, raking and searching for any evidence still stuck at the scene of the officer's deadly ambush.

Preston was supposed to graduate with a Masters of Jurisprudence from Loyola's School of Law this coming Saturday.

Still too shocked and distraught to speak on camera, Preston's aunt, Norma Mhoon, posted ta message to Facebook on Sunday about her late niece.

"She just was doing such a great job, and this happened to her. It was unbelievable," Mhoon said. "It weakens for me to think that she's gone."

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The flags outside the 5th District police station, now wave at half-staff as officers inside mourn the loss of Preston, remembered for her efforts on-duty and off-duty.

"Maybe they can have a buddy system going home, or something? If that's what it takes, do it, please, because we don't want to see anybody die unnecessarily," Thornton said.

Her death is officially being considered in-the-line-of-duty, a CPD spokesperson said Monday. Officers at the 5th District plan to hold a vigil in her honor Tuesday. Her funeral is still being planned, CPD said.

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