An assistant principal and her mother were fatally shot by her husband outside a middle school in a Chicago suburb.
Nerissa Lee, 46, and her 76-year-old mother were killed while sitting in their car outside Lincoln Middle School in Berwyn, Illinois, as school was letting out on Tuesday, according to reports.
Lee’s husband, identified as Stephen T. Lee, approached them and opened fire with a rifle, law enforcement stated.
After shooting them, he fired at a responding police officer before turning the gun on himself.
A local resident described the scene, recalling hearing nearly 20 gunshots. “It was so loud, they came straight to me,” said Maria Meriz, who lives nearby.
Lee’s sister mentioned that the tragic events of Tuesday did not appear sudden, suggesting issues in the couple’s relationship had been escalating since late June.
She noted, “Basically, there was a boiling point.”
The incident left the community in shock, particularly since Berwyn has been recognized as a relatively safe suburban area.
According to officials, Stephen T. Lee both shot at a police officer and then took his own life.
In the wake of this tragedy, the local school district expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Nerissa Lee, noting her dedication as an educator significantly impacted the lives of many students and staff members.
“The sadness of this incident resonates not just within the school but throughout the whole community,” they added in a statement.
