A gunman opened fire on a vehicle outside Lincoln Middle School in Berwyn, Illinois, on Tuesday afternoon, killing Nerissa Lee, the school’s assistant principal, and two others before turning the rifle on himself as officers arrived around 4:05 p.m. The shots were fired on the 6400 block of 16th Street, just steps from the campus, shortly after dismissal. Police said the gunman fired at responding officers before taking his own life and that officers did not return fire. No students were injured, authorities said.
Inside the car, two people were found dead—Nerissa Lee and Steven T. Lee, 54. A third person who was killed in the shooting has not yet been identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office. The gunman killed himself after shooting at officers, according to Berwyn police. The investigation remains active as authorities work to determine the sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
Berwyn North School District 98 Superintendent Michelle Smith issued a statement expressing sorrow and confirming the incident was a domestic violence case with no ongoing threat to the school community. "It is with great sadness that I announce to you that Nerissa Lee, Assistant Principal at Lincoln Middle School, lost her life in yesterday's tragic shooting that occurred outside of Lincoln," Smith wrote to families. The district said no students were harmed and that classes were canceled for the day but would resume with counselors and support staff available to students.
The Berwyn Police Department described Lee as a dedicated educator and leader who touched the lives of countless students and staff members. The department pledged continued support for the school community as the investigation proceeds and urged residents to report any information related to the incident.
Community reaction in Berwyn was swift, with friends and colleagues posting tributes on social media. Some recalled Lee’s long-standing ties to the area and her work as an administrator who served students during challenging times. Parents who were nearby when the shooting occurred said the violence struck close to home, underscoring the sense that safety near schools remains a daily concern for families in the city and surrounding suburbs.
The incident adds to a broader national discussion about gun violence, school safety, and how communities respond to domestic-violence-related violence near educational facilities. Officials said they will continue to support the Lincoln Middle School community as they process the tragedy and work to restore a sense of safety for students and staff.