Chicago - A man was shot and killed as he rushed to protect
his 17-year-old niece who was being sexually assaulted in the bedroom
of their home in the Burnside neighbourhood on the South Side
Thursday night, according to Chicago police.
A suspect - a 25-year-old man with a minor arrest record - was taken
into custody by officers who responded to the attack about 9pm in
the 500 block of East 89th Place, police said.
The attacker entered the home through a window, then tied up the
niece in her bedroom and sexually assaulted her, police said. Her
uncle, 66, heard her screaming and went to the room, where the
attacker shot him in the back and the head.
The uncle was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center,
where he was pronounced dead. His niece went to Advocate Trinity
Hospital and was stabilized.
Eugene Booze, who said he has lived next door to the family for about
35 years, said that the uncle was "the best neighbour in the world, a
very nice man".
Booze was in his living room playing dominoes with fellow bus driver
retirees at the time of the attack. He said he didn't realize
anything was going on until his wife noticed a large police presence
in their backyard and in the gangway between his home and the home
where the alleged assault took place.
He said that there is "not too much drama in this neighbourhood" and
couldn't remember any other shootings taking place on the block.
Police said charges were pending against the man in custody.