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Oak Park
Police Hold Meeting to Explain Progess in the Murder of Pedro H.
Gurrola Jr.
and Address Community Issues.
and Address Community Issues.
Residents of Oak Park gather outside the Oak Park Conservatory waiting for the doors to be opened.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
A possible transport system for some of Oak Park's unsolved murders, all elevated train lines in Oak Park, the green and blue lines are without any video cameras to assist in finding criminals.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
Residents
quickly fill the room with only standing room for many. Later the
audience filled into the hallway where they stood.
© Suburban Journals
of Chicago Inc. photoOak Park Police Chief Tanksley Addresses the Residents with some of the background concerning the murder of Pedro H. Gurrola Jr.
Oak
Park Police Chief Tanksley began the meeting with the following
conditions; "What I'm going to say about our investigation is probably
no more than what you already know..." He then went on to speak
about fear in the community and how it differs with random versus
targeted killings.
When the residents were asked if they had questions he responded to several inquiries by adding new information concerning the facts that were not known by the public. Pedro H. Gurrola Jr., the deceased, has had other cars recently stolen from his garage, he was robbed of some items from him other than his car, and the murder weapon has not yet been found.
Detective Commander Reynolds was unaware if the missing car information was passed to agencies beyond the state of Illinois.
When the residents were asked if they had questions he responded to several inquiries by adding new information concerning the facts that were not known by the public. Pedro H. Gurrola Jr., the deceased, has had other cars recently stolen from his garage, he was robbed of some items from him other than his car, and the murder weapon has not yet been found.
Detective Commander Reynolds was unaware if the missing car information was passed to agencies beyond the state of Illinois.
Oak Park Police Chief Tanksley answers what he can from
the residents questions.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photos
Another person asked if there were any
patterns to this kind of murder in the area. The Chief responded that there had been a
murder of a man who had his body parts left in a bag and that it was based on
actions of an international drug cartel.
A woman from the front row wanted to know if they had thought of two people being involved in the crimes, one dropping the other one off. The Chief said that it had been discussed on the day of the murder. It is also possible that the killer came in on the Blue line which is only a block away from the home of Pedro H. Gurrola Jr.
A man from the audience noted that his wife on April 22nd of this year had been sprayed in the face with pepper spray at about 6:15pm in the daylight on the 600 block of south Elmwood and had their car carjacked.
A woman from the middle of the audience said that her daughter was approached while she was parking her new car at 7:00 pm, about 5 years ago when a man put a gun to her head and demanded money, a purse, or the car. The robber got nothing and the daughter is alright.
A neighbor on the block of Ascension School complained that she called and waited for three years to get an alley light replaced, that her alley was too dark and no one helped her. We gave her a card and told her that if she has trouble like that again before it gets that long in time to let us know.
A woman from the front row wanted to know if they had thought of two people being involved in the crimes, one dropping the other one off. The Chief said that it had been discussed on the day of the murder. It is also possible that the killer came in on the Blue line which is only a block away from the home of Pedro H. Gurrola Jr.
A man from the audience noted that his wife on April 22nd of this year had been sprayed in the face with pepper spray at about 6:15pm in the daylight on the 600 block of south Elmwood and had their car carjacked.
A woman from the middle of the audience said that her daughter was approached while she was parking her new car at 7:00 pm, about 5 years ago when a man put a gun to her head and demanded money, a purse, or the car. The robber got nothing and the daughter is alright.
A neighbor on the block of Ascension School complained that she called and waited for three years to get an alley light replaced, that her alley was too dark and no one helped her. We gave her a card and told her that if she has trouble like that again before it gets that long in time to let us know.
Oak Park Police Chief Tanksley reads the crime statistics to the residents.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
Current Oak
Park Crime Statistics
In the hallway a Prosecutor on the left reassures Oak Park
residents that they have a good police force and to the right
is Oak Park Village President David Pope.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
Chief Tanksley answers all the questions that he can given this
is an ongoing investigation, and one with arrest expected soon.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc. photo
Chief Tanksley asked Ascension School
Principal Mary Jo Burns how the school was doing following the murder. Ms. Burns noted
that since they were a religious school they had already prayed on the issue, but
did not have a special meeting on the topic planned. She added that she was
hopeful the meeting tonight would help calm some of the nerves.
The Chief told everyone that solving this murder was the number one priority and he noted again that they good information that has caused them to say again that this was not a random act.
Oak Park Detective Commander Reynolds, Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Kelly Navarro, Oak Park Deputy Chief Ambrose, and Oak Park Sgt. Dave Jacobson were also present at the meeting. The meeting ended after about 50 minutes of discussion. The officials had their say and residents vented some of their concerns and wishes. People liked the idea of the the elevated trains having video cameras added to them, and the sooner the better.
© Suburban Journals of Chicago
published by Suburban Journals of Chicago Inc.