Chicagoland School Custodian Commits Murder-Suicide

And you think you don't take bad news well.

An elementary school in Garfield Ridge became the site of a murder-suicide earlier this month.

Around 3:40 p.m. on August 10th, a 63-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman were found with gunshot wounds to their heads at Mark Twain Elementary School (which is at 5104 S. Lotus Ave. in Garfield Ridge). No students were in the school at the time of the shooting.

The older custodian was reportedly not happy about the news that he was being transferred to a different school. That was when he shot his coworker and himself.

The custodians were both part of the union SEIU Local 73. Security video from the school shows the older custodian walking behind his coworker and shooting her in the face. He then walked into the office when he shot himself in the head.

Mark Twain Elementary president Matthew Moline posted last week:

I am following up regarding yesterday’s devastating loss to our school community. I imagine that like me, many of you are experiencing a combination of shock, confusion, and sadness in the wake of this tragedy. It will take time to heal from what has happened, and we will need to support each other in the days and weeks ahead...I know that some of our students may need support as well when they return to school, and I will provide you with more detail on a plan to provide that support in the coming days.

The kids will return to school on August 24th.