The McHenry County Medical Examiner officially identified and released the names and ages of the four individuals who lost their lives in the shooting. The incident occurred around 4 a.m. on August 9 within a family residence in Crystal Lake, McHenry County, Illinois. Autopsies have already been conducted.
The deceased individuals have been identified as four individuals: 44-year-old Jean Song, 32-year-old Lauren Smith-Song, 73-year-old Chang Song, and 49-year-old Yuna Song. However, the identity and current condition of a woman who reported the incident to the police and sustained injuries remains undisclosed.
“We believe the deceased family members are all of Korean descent,” said Consul General Taesu Yeo of the Consulate General in Chicago, adding that the survivor’s surname is also Song and they are all related.
Given the availability of full names and social media profiles of some family members, it has been disclosed that they constitute a Korean American family. Notably, one of the victims was Jean Song’s Caucasian spouse.
Lauren Smith, a Caucasian woman, was originally from Australia and graduated from college in Sydney before immigrating to the U.S. in 2014. Lauren Smith found the company with Jean Song in August of that year, according to the company’s website.
In a related development, authorities believe that a man in his 40s, who perpetrated the shootings and later took his own life, resorted to this extreme act during a family dispute that escalated into aggression. The exact motive and intricate details of the incident continue to remain a mystery.
Upon the police’s response to the emergency call, three of the women were already deceased, while a man and a woman were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Regrettably, the man succumbed to his injuries shortly thereafter.
According to the Chicago Tribune, “The alleged shooter had previously been charged with assault in 1997 and had received a year of court supervision,” as per court records.
The man was associated with a holster business that specialized in pocket holsters for various firearms. As reported by the Northwest Herald, the woman in her 30s served as the chief marketing officer for the same company. These details were derived from Illinois business data listings.
On August 11, when visiting the company’s website, it became evident that its listed address matched the location of the shooting. This tragic event unfolded within a tranquil residential neighborhood situated around 70 kilometers northwest of downtown Chicago.
Local residents expressed their shock to the media, describing the incident as “unbelievable” in a community where “neighbors share close relationships and lead a peaceful daily life.”
All five individuals involved in the incident had reportedly cohabited in the same house for a number of years. Real estate transaction records indicate that the house had most recently changed ownership in June 2013.
Meanwhile, the Consulate General of Chicago promised the much needed assistance. “The police are prioritizing of protecting the privacy of the victims as this is a ‘non social harm’ case and are reluctant to disclose their nationality and personal information,” said Taesu Yeo, a police consul at the Consulate General of Chicago. “The oldest victim, who was among the deceased, may have Korean nationality. We are actively cooperating with the police as we await a request for consular assistance from the surviving victim.”
BY SUAH JANG [jang.suah@koreadaily.com]
