Gunman kills three at Oak Forest home; police find his body inside after fire
OAK FOREST, Ill. (CBS) -- A gunman killed three people in southwest suburban Oak Forest Friday morning, and then police found his body inside a home after a fire.
As CBS 2's Sabrina Franza reported, the incident happened around 6:30 a.m. The scene was still roped off with crime scene tape more than 12 hours later, and few words could describe it other than "tragedy."
According to Oak Forest police, two people were found shot in the driveway of the home at 5550 Ann Marie Ln., near Natalie Drive. A third person was found in the street just to the south of the house. Police were able to move the victims, and ambulances transported them to the hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The man believed to be the gunman was found dead inside the home after the fire was put out.
The suspected gunman was identified late Friday as Carlos Gomez Jr., 44. The victims were identified as Lupe Gomez, 43; Emilio Rodriguez, 20; and Briana Rodriguez, 22.
A teenager, police said, was able to escape from the home. It was just after the teenager was removed from the house by emergency personnel that it was engulfed by fire – and smoke began pouring out.
The incident forced residents to say in their homes for several hours. A few hours later, that order was lifted.
Video from a Ring camera nearby showed people running from the home and a man chasing after them. Suddenly at least two people running away collapsed to the ground. The video, which was viewed by CBS 2, did not include audio.
Police scanner traffic described Carlos Gomez Jr. as having barricaded himself inside the Oak Forest home, and then having set the house on fire.
Neighbors witnessed the tragedy unfolding inside the home and on the driveway. They said this was a family that is now forever changed.
"My husband left to work really early this morning. He did see a body on the floor," said neighbor Sirena Velazquez. "We were all confused. This is a very quiet neighborhood; very quiet street, actually. The only thing fun that happens is football games across the street for the kids."
She couldn't imagine the tragedy unfolding in her neighbor's driveway.
"We heard a bunch of rounds back and forth, back-to-back," Velazquez said.
Another neighbor said his wife woke up to gunshots.
"At around 6:20, 6:30, my wife shakes me awake, she tells me she thinks she heard a gunshot," neighbor Jake Bittner told CBS 2. "Disbelief, disgust, just bothered."
Bittner told CBS 2 he ran out of his house and saw the flames and black smoke. He said officers told residents to stay back.
Chopper 2 was over the scene where SWAT teams and fire crews were working to clear the scene. Heavy poured from the house.
Emilio and Briana Rodriguez were both graduates of Oak Forest High School, where the homecoming parade was canceled Friday. The homecoming football game went ahead, but with a moment of silence beforehand.
"It would have been very insensitive to have the parade go on," said Denise Beall, who attended the game.
We spoke to families who had loved ones planning to walk in the parade.
"Having the parade canceled today was tragic, but not as tragic as what happened - and I couldn't see them doing the parade going through town when something so horrible had happened right down the street," Beall said.
"They were a little sad but, you know, understanding the circumstances, you know, the kids are empathetic of it," said Meg D'Arcy.
As CBS 2's Charlie De Mar reported Friday night, it was also clear from talking with people at the game that the horror of what unfolded about a half mile away very much on the minds of the close community.
Dark clouds hung heavy above the Friday night lights during the football game, as that moment of silence was held to remember the lives inexplicably taken that morning.
Neighbors described suspected gunman Gomez as a father and an "ex-Marine."
CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported the home where the shooting and fire occurred was the center of a domestic violence incident back in 2016.
On Dec 5, 2016, Oak Forest police were called to the same home, according to Cook County court records.
Gomez was arrested and charged with "domestic battery" and "criminal damage to property." The victim was listed as 43-year-old Lupe Gomez.
Court records show they were — at least at one point — married.
An order of protection was granted for Lupe Gomez, but it was vacated just nine days later on Dec. 14, 2016 - and the domestic violence charges were dropped.
At this point, police have not said what the possible motive was for the killings.
