River Forest police: Homicide report on social media unfounded

Detec tives still conducting death investigation, says chief

By STACEY SHERIDAN Staff Reporter

River Forest Police Chief James O’Shea denied social media re ports that the death ofa woman on Feb. 6 was a homicide, despite tweets that said otherwise.

“No indication of homicide,” O’Shea wrote in an email to Wednesday Journal. “Misreported on social media.”

The woman’s death in a home on Keystone Avenue was first made public on Twitter by Oak Park Scanner, an account unaffiliated with either the Oak Park or River Forest police departments. steering column between 5 p.m. and 10:44 p.m., Feb. 3.

“Homicide re port. An altercation led to a 32-year-old woman being shot to death,” the account tweeted at 6:30 p.m.

The tweet, which correctly stated the location ofthe incident, quickly racked up more than 19,000 views. Several people commented on the post offering prayers for the deceased and speculation into what occurred.

The Cook County Medical Examiner has confirmed that a person had died at the Keystone Avenue location at 6:10 p.m. on Feb. 6. An autopsy was scheduled for Feb. 7.

River Forest police continue to investigate the death. A statement released by the department stated there is no threat to the community.

Theft

■ T he catalytic co nverter was c ut from a 2012 Hyundai ofunknown model between 6 p. m ., Fe b. 2, and 7:30 a.m., Fe b. 3, in the 100 block of S outh Scoville Avenue.

■ A woman was spotted removing a ButcherBox package from a porch in the 200 block ofNorth Marion Street at 2:31 p. m ., Jan. 31. T he package c ontained one 10-ounce package of bacon, three pounds of b one-in chicken thigh s, two 10-ounc e ribe ye steaks, two p ounds of ground b eef, a p ound ofshrimp and eight ounces ofsliced salmon, for a total estimated loss of $167.

■ T he catalytic co nverter was c ut from a 2012 Toyota P rius pa rked in the 400 block of S outh Tay lor Avenue b etween 7 p. m ., Fe b. 2, and 8 a.m., Fe b. 3.

Criminal proper ty damage

■ A railcar window belonging to a Chicago Transit Authority Blue Line train was shattered between 5:54 p.m. and 6:02 p.m., Feb. 1 at 720 S. Austin Blvd.

■ Someone shattered the front driver’s side window ofa 2008 Ford van between 6 p.m., Feb. 2, and 6 a.m., Feb. 3, in the 400 block of Wisconsin Avenue.

These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department re ports, Jan. 31-Feb. 5, and re present a portion ofthe incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these re ports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We re port the race ofa suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed physical description ofthe suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.

Compiled by Stacey Sheridan