Berwyn shooting: Lincoln Middle School assistant principal Nerissa Lee among 3 dead after shooting near school, officials say
The assistant principal of Lincoln Middle School was one of the three people killed in a shooting on Tuesday in Berwyn right outside the school.
Berwyn North School District 98 announced Wednesday that assistant principal Nerissa Lee was killed.
It was a difficult day for many people in Berwyn as students and staff came together at Lincoln Middle School, mourning the loss of their assistant principal. Everyone ABC7 spoke mentioned how kind of a person Lee was, as she worked there for several years and was always focused on helping her students.
It was just after 4 p.m. Tuesday when Berwyn police said officers heard the gunfire near the school. When officers arrived, they said, the suspect, who was inside a vehicle, was still shooting.
Police said once more support was called in, officers approached the vehicle and found a man dead after allegedly taking his own life.
Officers also found two other people dead inside the vehicle the suspect was shooting into. Investigators called this a domestic-related incident
"You don't expect that from a small town like this in Berwyn, and it's kind of scary to just think about it, because it happened right in front of school," said Abraham Pulido, who lives nearby. "It was just cops everywhere and helicopter noises and sirens."
Flowers rested on a growing memorial Wednesday right outside Lincoln Middle School.
Former students were stopping by the school all day to honor her.
"I just saw it and freaked out," former student Ena Laubis said. "That was my favorite teacher."
Laubis graduated from Lincoln Middle School a couple of years ago and says Lee always took care of her students.
"She would give students extra food if they were still hungry," Laubis. "She would keep food for students later in the day if they were hungry, and she was just very kind person."
The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office identified 54-year-old Steven T. Lee as one of the victims. Neighbors told ABC7 that man is the assistant principal's husband, who she has been living with in Broadview for five years.
"Always nice people always spoke always friendly very neighborly can't say enough about how nice they were to me and my family," neighbor Chris Dotson said.
The identity of the third person killed has not been released. Police continue to investigate the case.
The school was closed Wednesday. Counselors will be available for students at the school Wednesday who need support.
Berwyn Mayor Robert Lever released a statement, calling it a senseless incident of domestic violence sharing his condolences with all impacted.
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