- A mother and her three daughters were shot by her husband around 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning in Tinley Park near Chicago
- A 911 call was made from the home where the shooting occurred, but by the time emergency responders arrived on scene, the four women were dead
- Her father was taken into custody and a weapon was recovered at the scene
A father of five shot and killed his wife and three of his daughters in a small community outside Chicago on Sunday in what a 911 dispatcher described as a “massacre.”
Shortly after 11:30 a.m., police were called by a man in the home. According to the Cook County Coroner's Office, the victims were pronounced dead at the scene minutes later at 11:36 a.m.
The women were Majeda Kassem, 53, and her three daughters, including twins Halema and Zahia, both 25, and her younger sister Hanan Kassem, 24. All had been shot.
“A male subject said his wife had been shot.” The line went dead. “He wasn’t really cooperative,” the dispatcher initially said.
A mother and her three daughters were shot by her husband around 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning in Tinley Park near Chicago
A 911 call was made from the home where the shooting occurred, but by the time emergency responders arrived on scene, the four women were dead
Residents appeared completely shocked by the events at the suburban family's home
The same dispatcher described the scene as “a massacre” as more emergency units were scheduled to be sent to the home.
The Tinley Park Public Safety Department said a suspect was still at the home when police arrived and was arrested following the “domestic shooting.”
A gun was also found at the crime scene, the Chicago Tribune reports.
“The perpetrator is in custody and the crime scene has been secured,” said a statement shortly after the man’s arrest. “Due to the ongoing investigation, we are asking residents to stay away from the area.”
Neighbors were completely shocked by the news and described the murdered residents as “such a good family who had a bright future” as some of the children, including two adult sons, had ambitions of becoming pharmacists or doctors.
On Sunday, police cordoned off the street in Tinley Park near Chicago
After the shooting, investigators were at the scene throughout the afternoon and into the evening
As the sun set Sunday evening, the house was still surrounded by crime scene tape
Locals stood in shock as they learned about the quadruple murders
“My daughter knows her. She went to school with the eldest son and kept her twin sisters busy. “She always talked about how they were all very intelligent and had very high goals in life,” Charlotte Vaitkus told ABC 7.
Throughout Sunday afternoon, police officers were still investigating the scene of the shooting in a residential area of Tinley Park.
Village Administrator Patt Carr said there is no danger to the public following the shooting.
“This was isolated to the house. The crime scene is secured. “There is only one suspect at this time,” Carr told reporters.
“It's a tragedy. Not just for the family, but for all the surrounding neighbors that are there.”
The village of about 55,000 residents is located about 30 miles southwest of Chicago. The shootings are the deadliest incident in nearly 20 years.
Police forces and residents could be seen on site late into the night on Sunday
Many residents appeared stunned when they heard the tragic news
On Sunday evening, two residents were seen at the scene while police were still present
Father of five shoots his 53-year-old wife and three “intelligent, high-performing” adult daughters in his Chicago home before calling police to the scene. Emergency call center speaks of “massacre”