Procession, vigil held for fallen CPD Officer Areanah Preston
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A solemn procession worked its way through the city Tuesday for slain Chicago Police officer Areanah Preston, and a vigil and balloon release were later held at the district station where she worked.
First, police and Fire department vehicles escorted an ambulance that delivered Officer Preston's casket from the Cook County Medical Examiner's office, 2121 W. Harrison St., to the Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, at 4727 W. 103rd St. in Oak Lawn
The vigil and balloon release for Officer Preston followed Tuesday evening at the Calumet (5th) District station, 727 E. 111th St.
As CBS 2's Jermont Terry reported, there was a call for "peace for Preston" at the vigil. Officer Preston represented so much in her 24 years of life and three as a police officer – and her family and the police district where she worked paused to remember.
It was a solemn evening as hugs covered up the hurt the district of losing one of their own.
"She affected everybody," said Calumet District Cmdr. Tyrone Pendarvis. "Everybody knew her."
Hundreds packed the atrium outside the district police station to reflect on Officer Preston. Cmdr. Pendarvis recalled a vibrant young lady.
"She always wanted to be an officer," Pendarvis said. "She loved helping people, and she loved being able to talk people down."
Preston was shot around 1:42 a.m. on Saturday in the 8100 block of South Blackstone Avenue in the Avalon Park neighborhood. She had just finished her shift in the 5th District and was yards from her home.
An arriving officer rendered aid, placed her into the back of a squad car, and took her to the University of Chicago Medical Center.
After the desperate attempt to save her life, a police source tells CBS 2 she died from multiple gunshot wounds above the breast.
"She was always a positive officer," said Pendarvis.
That is why fellow officers, friends, and strangers – like Eli Washington – came to honor Officer Preston.
"Because the fact that she was doing something with her life – you know, we always talk about how we want our kids to do well, and graduate, and become something," Washington said. "Here, this young lady was doing everything that we would want a child to do."
Officer Preston's mother found the courage to stand before the crowd and tell everyone she needs their prayers.
"And to think I have to bury my baby - and I poured so much into her," Preston's mother said. "I love each and every one of you just for coming out tonight."
And while the pain is heavy, Officer Preston's mother stands with the support of the entire police force.
"I'm going to be all right - and I got this big old police family behind me," she said.
Meanwhile, the investigation continues.
It was more than 30 minutes after a ShotSpotter alert in the area, and about 15 minutes after an alert was sent from Preston's Apple Watch that police found the critically wounded officer in front of her home.
Neighbors told us they are still stunned by what happened and have been cooperating with police.
According to police reports, CPD surveillance teams were monitoring a possible suspect – who got into an Uber near 76th and Bishop streets.
The driver told CBS 2 that two of his passengers were taken into custody around 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Other suspects connected to the shooting were also taken into custody near the same intersection in Auburn Gresham after a SWAT standoff in a building.
Meanwhile, the shooting suspects are also linked to at least one armed robbery that occurred before the shooting.
A police source told CBS 2 several people are now under investigation in connection to the case. They are being detained as investigators try to find out what led to the officer's shooting.
We are checking constantly with our law enforcement sources, but at last check, we were told there are no official charges in Preston's death. But a police source told us those detained are connected, somehow, to Officer Preston's death.
Chicago Police generally have 48 hours to charge someone with a crime after they've been taken into custody.
But CBS 2 Legal analyst Irv Miller said there are some special exceptions.
"If the police don't think that the investigation is complete, and they want more time in excess of the 48 hours, they could contact what's known as duty judge," Miller said. "That's an on-call judge that is there to review documentation that the Police Department will submit to that judge to determine if there is probable cause that this person committed to crime - and therefore could be held in excess of 48 hours."
Miller said the period before potential charges are filed can be the most crucial — and time consuming.
"Typically, it's DNA. They're trying to match up DNA - and that does take some time," Miller said. "There's also the issue of possible ballistics testing that has to be done, but that could be the relatively quickly."
Miller also explained that there is no such thing as a statute of limitations in a murder charge.
