Two Custodians Found Dead in Suspected Murder-Suicide at Chicago Elementary School

Two custodial employees were found dead from gunshot wounds Monday inside a Chicago elementary school, in what reports described as an apparent murder-suicide involving co-workers.

Chicago police said officers discovered a 48-year-old woman and a 63-year-old man unresponsive at Mark Twain Elementary School shortly after 3:30 p.m.

Authorities said each victim had been shot once in the head. Both were transported to area hospitals, where they were later pronounced dead.

Police also recovered a weapon at the scene, though officials did not immediately specify what type of firearm was found.

Mark Twain Elementary School Principal Matthew Moline notified families of the deaths in a letter, according to WTTW-TV. He said the gunfire occurred inside the school building when students were not on campus.

“I am sorry to share that members of our school community were impacted,” Moline wrote in the message to parents.

SEIU Local 73, the union representing custodial workers in Chicago Public Schools, confirmed that both victims were employees assigned to the elementary school. Their names had not been released.

“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,” SEIU Local 73 Executive Vice President Trumaine Reeves said in a statement.

The older custodian was upset that he was slated to be transferred from the school, the Chicago Sun-Times reported, citing a police report. He allegedly shot his co-worker before shooting himself, according to the newspaper.

“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.”

News Outlet has reached out to the police department, Chicago Public Schools, and Moline, the school principal.