Thursday's Shooting Would Be 1st Murder in Burr Ridge History

By Joe O'Donnell

If classified as a homicide, the fatal shooting outside St. Mark's Coptic Orthodox Church early Thursday morning would be the first murder to take place in Burr Ridge in the village's 57-year history.

Deputy Chief Marc Loftus of the Burr Ridge Police Department said the early-morning shooting that left a 61-year-old woman dead has not been labeled as a homicide to this point.

"We are being cautious on classification," Loftus said. 

READ: Woman Dead, Man in Custody After Burr Ridge Shooting

The deputy chief did confirm that there has never been a murder in an incorporated area of Burr Ridge. 

"There have been some in areas that were unincorporated and later became incorporated," Loftus said.

Thursday's shooting took place around 1 a.m. in the parking lot of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church's preschool on 79th Street in Burr Ridge. The victim was transported to Adventist Hinsdale Hospital and was pronounced dead at 1:42 a.m.

The man who called 911 from the parking lot after the shooting is in police custody and is considered a suspect, though no charges were filed Thursday.

Loftus said the victim is not a Burr Ridge resident, and he has been told neither the suspect nor the victim are members of the church. He did not comment on whether or not the suspect and victim are related. 

"We believe it to be an isolated incident," Loftus said. "There’s no danger to the community."

Editor's note: This story previously stated incorrectly that the victim was 62 years old, when in fact she was 61.