Wife, Son Of Late Cook County Commissioner Fatally Shot In Home: Authorities

CHICAGO — The wife and son of the late Cook County commissioner, Dennis Deer, were discovered fatally shot Tuesday evening in Chicago, authorities said.

Barbara Deer, 51, and Kaleb Deer, 23, were found unresponsive around 6 p.m. in a home in the 3500 block of West Arthington Street, where they both lived, according to authorities.

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Barbara Deer had been shot three times in the chest and Kaleb Deer suffered a single gunshot to the head, authorities said, adding both were pronounced dead at the scene, where a weapon was recovered.

Barbara Deer's death was a homicide and Kaleb Deer's death was a suicide, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.

Dennis Deer died in June 2024 at the age of 51 after raising a family with Barbara Deer, who was his high school sweetheart.

“The Deer family has long been well known in the community for their compassion and steadfast commitment to others,” Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said Wednesday in a prepared statement.

“Their presence and service touched countless lives. There are no words that can make sense of such pain, but I hope the surviving family members find strength in the love that surrounds them.”

In addition to Kaleb Deer, Dennis and Barbara Deer were parents to a daughter and to Kaleb’s twin brother.