Murder-suicide in Chicago Ridge as co-workers watch

August 11, 2010 8:20 AM

A man and a woman died Tuesday evening in an apparent murder-suicide in the parking lot of a shopping mall in southwest suburban Chicago Ridge, officials said.

The shootings took place in front of several witnesses, many of whom worked with the woman, police said.

The woman was identified by the Cook County medical examiner's office this morning as Tabatha Oliver, 41, of the 2000 block of West 75th Place in Chicago. The man has not yet been identified, but the medical examiner's office said he died of a gunshot wound to the head and was in his 40s.

The shooting occurred as a group of coworkers were leaving work in a van to pick up their cars parked in the north end of the parking lot of a Sears store at the Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall, police said, citing preliminary information.

The group parked their cars at the lot every morning and carpooled to work in a van,

according to Chicago Ridge Police Chief Rob Pyznarski. When the group pulled into the lot Tuesday evening, Oliver saw a man standing next to her car.

Witnesses said she said, "Oh no, not him. Somebody might have to call the police."

The man approached the woman and shot her several times, Pyznarski said. Oliver fell to the ground and the man stood over her and shot her at least two more times, he said.

The man then turned the gun on himself, Pyznarski said.

Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene, he said.

Their relationship is unknown at this time, but police said it was apparent from witness accounts that the two were familiar with each other.

Witnesses at the scene, who carpooled with Oliver, said they had not seen the man before Tuesday and did not know the nature of their relationship, Pyznarski said.

From: http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2010/08/witnesses-see-man-kill-woman-shoot-self-in-chicago-ridge.html