Retired Chicago police officer, 73, shot and killed on West Side
CHICAGO (CBS) – A retired Chicago Police officer who was a groundbreaking technician on the Bomb Squad was shot and killed in broad daylight outside his West Side home Thursday morning.
Larry Neuman, 73, was honored with a procession by his former colleagues Thursday. He leaves behind a wife, children, and grandchildren.
Neuman was shot in the 4300 block of West Monroe Street in West Garfield Park around 11:30 a.m., according to the Chicago Police Department. Neighbors said they heard five or six shots. He was taken to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, where he died.
"He'd be mainly cutting his grass, taking care of his yard and things like that," said one neighbor who asked not to be named. "It's just a sad situation."
The neighbor said Neuman was well-known in the area, was active in his church, and a fixture on his block.
"This is heartbreaking for such a good guy, a God-fearing man," said longtime friend Johnnie Mae McGee.
McGee said she came to Neuman's house after another friend called her about the police investigation and was concerned the man they knew so well may have been injured. She said the friend was in shock and cried worrying about Neuman.
The other neighbor said the shooting was "a really messed up situation. It's summertime. The kids can't come outside and play. It's dangerous, and this is when they are supposed to be out. But as you can see, there are no kids nowhere."
Officer Neuman was a "role model," says former boss
Former Chicago Police Chief of Detectives Eugene Roy worked alongside Neuman for five years.
"Today is another gut punch," Roy said.
Neuman retired from the Chicago Police Department in 2010. The fact that he was killed in a shooting was a shock to Roy and to many others.
"He's a hero. Be proud of him. He served his country, his family, and his community for over 50 years," Roy said. "What a record. What a record."
Neuman first served his country as a U.S. Marine in the Vietnam War before returning home to become one of the first Black bomb technicians.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, the Chicago Police Bomb Squad said, "It is with great sadness we mourn the loss of the longest serving explosives technician with the Chicago Police Bomb Squad and a very wonderful human being. Larry was a wealth of knowledge and truly a joy to be around. We pray for his soul and his family during this time."
Roy was Neuman's boss for five years, and said Neuman was the prototype.
"He always knew the right thing to say. He was a calming presence and critical situations," Neuman said. "He knew his job. He did it well. He did it without any hesitation."
Roy said Neuman was the last person to whom he would have expected something like this to happen.
"I heard it was Larry and he was shot while he was outside his home where he has lived for decades in that West Side community," Roy said. "He is one of the pillars of that community out there—and to hear that he had been murdered, just gunned down while working on his lawn with his wife?"
Roy confirmed reports that three juveniles returned for revenge after trying to rob Neuman.
Just hours after the shooting, a group of Chicago Police officers saluted Neuman as his body was taken from Stroger Hospital to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, at 2121 W. Harrison St.
"He served as a role model for his fellow officers—for officers that were coming along, prospective officers, and even for the old gray-hairs like me," Roy said.
Neuman was a servant, brother, father, husband, and grandfather who continued to be a pillar to youth and other officers in his final moments.
"You know, while we mourn him, we need to celebrate him," Roy said.
Roy went on to say it is a scary time for officer when such situations are happening—as he now questions where Chicago is as a city, and questions humanity.
The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation announced Thursday night that it is offering a reward of $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in Neuman's murder.
Police on Friday said the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are also each offering $25,000 rewards—for a total reward of $75,000.
Information may be submitted through CPDTIP.com, or by calling Crime Stoppers at 800-535-STOP.