Two custodians were found shot to death Monday inside Chicago's Mark Twain Elementary School in what authorities are investigating as a possible murder-suicide.
Police responded to the school shortly after 3:30 p.m. and discovered a 48-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man, both shot once in the head. They were transported to local hospitals where they were pronounced dead. An unspecified weapon was recovered at the scene.
The incident occurred when no students were present in the building. School principal Matthew Moline confirmed the deaths in a letter to parents, stating that members of the school community were impacted.
SEIU Local 73, the union representing Chicago Public Schools custodial employees, confirmed both deceased individuals were custodians at the elementary school. "The only facts we know right now are that two families have lost a loved one and our prayers are with their families, and the staff, students, and families at Mark Twain Elementary School," said SEIU Local 73 Executive Vice President Trumaine Reeves.
According to a police report cited by the Chicago Sun-Times, the older custodian was reportedly upset about being transferred from the school. He allegedly shot his co-worker before taking his own life.
"We know that this news will be deeply concerning to our families and staff," Moline wrote in his letter. "We will work to provide additional information to the school community as the investigation proceeds."