I-Team: Loop shooter Tony DeFrances not permitted to legally carry gun

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Tony DeFrances shot his boss and then killed himself, police said, in the heart of Chicago's financial district.

The only smoking gun in this case was the one at the crime scene. There was no history of bad blood, no court order of protection or hostile workplace complaint. There was nothing in the public record or from private friends of Tony DeFrances that would have predicted what happened on Thursday.

DeFrances had just been demoted at ArrowStream, and pulled a gun during a meeting with CEO Steven LaVoie, police said. He had been with the company since it began and was personally involved in or responsible for the systems that made the company a success, according to his bio.

The I-Team has found that DeFrances was not legally permitted to carry the 9mm pistol he used in Thursday's financial district attack.

DeFrances didn't have a concealed carry permit under the new state law, nor did he have an Illinois Firearm Owners Identification card according to state police officials, so it's unclear where the gun came from or how he obtained it. Police say he fired at least two shots at his boss, hitting him in the head and abdomen.

As chief technology officer, he was responsible for all aspects of technology, including the development, technical support and data management. Before ArrowStream, he ran his own software firm, according to the bio.

He was second in command at ArrowStream next to LaVoie.

DeFrances, who turned 60 in April, was married with three adult children. He lived in northwest suburban Tower Lakes.

"Everybody kind of knows everybody to some extent or another," neighbor Jim Olson said. "I just can't believe that it was Tony who was involved in this."

DeFrances, who was born in Ohio, had two masters of science degrees from University of Dayton.

Chicago police have turned over the 9mm pistol to federal authorities. On Thursday night, a spokesman for ATF says a priority trace is underway to determine how that gun ended up in Tony DeFrances' hands.