MUNDELEIN, IL — A 51-year-old man fatally shot his parents, son and longtime girlfriend inside a Mundelein home Sunday before turning the gun on himself, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
Bryan Schmidt, 51, recently of Antioch and formerly of Lake Bluff, is believed to have killed four people between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, according to a news release from the Mundelein Police Department. Detectives found multiple suicide notes left by Schmidt at the scene and inside his vehicle, police said.
The victims have been identified as Schmidt's parents, James Schmidt, 80, and Rebecca Schmidt, 77, both of whom lived at the home in the 200 block of Wellington Avenue; his son, Maclaine Schmidt, 22, of Lake Bluff; and his longtime girlfriend, Nicole Heiser, 37, recently of Antioch and formerly of Lake Bluff.
James and Rebecca Schmidt were retired veterinarians with longstanding ties to the Lake County community.
Rebecca Schmidt founded the Northern Illinois Cat Clinic on Peterson Road in Libertyville, a veterinary practice specializing in feline care that has since closed, according to the Daily Herald. Rebecca graduated with honors from the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine in 1973 and became the first female veterinarian to complete a postgraduate internship in 1975, according to an archived version of the clinic's website cited by the Daily Herald.
She was also a member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners, American Veterinary Medical Association and Chicago Veterinary Medical Association.
Bryan Schmidt managed the family veterinary clinic, which closed about two years ago and was formally dissolved earlier this year, the Daily Herald reported.
Neighbors remembered Rebecca Schmidt as a friendly woman who regularly walked through the neighborhood and greeted residents, according to ABC7 Chicago. A former employee of the family's clinic, Rosa Bernel, described the couple as the best bosses she had ever worked for.
Investigators believe Bryan Schmidt shot all four victims in close proximity to one another before fatally shooting himself, police said.
Authorities were not called to the home until approximately 11:45 p.m. Sunday, when a concerned family member requested a well-being check after being unable to contact one of the victims. Responding officers entered the residence and discovered all five adults dead inside.
Autopsies conducted Monday by the Lake County Coroner's Office determined that James and Rebecca Schmidt died from multiple gunshot wounds. Maclaine Schmidt and Heiser each died from a gunshot wound to the head.
Bryan Schmidt died from an intraoral gunshot wound to the head, according to the coroner's office.
Police said Tuesday that detectives recovered a significant amount of evidence, including electronic devices that will undergo forensic examination. The Mundelein Police Department had no prior contact with Bryan Schmidt or any of the victims, authorities said.
Investigators are continuing to work to determine a possible motive for the killings.
The Mundelein Police Department previously described the incident as isolated and said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
"The Mundelein Police Department extends its condolences to the victims' loved ones and recognizes the impact this tragedy has had on our community," police said in Tuesday's statement. "We ask the public to respect the privacy of the families during this difficult time."
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to contact the Mundelein Police Department at 847-968-4600.
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