Barricaded Man Found Deceased In Apartment: Cops

OAK LAWN, IL — A well-being check ended tragically Saturday when a man who had allegedly made threats to harm himself or others was found deceased in his Oak Lawn apartment. Police had tried to make contact with the man for several hours after they heard a gunshot inside the residence.

Around 8:30 am, Oak Lawn police went to the apartment building at 10440 S. Mason Avenue. Family members asked officers to check on the unidentified male, whom they said had made statements leading them to believe that he may try to harm himself or others, police said.

When officers arrived at the residence, they knocked on the door and tried to talk to the man inside. Officers and another witness heard what sounded like a gunshot coming from inside. For the safety of other residents of the building as well as nearby neighbors, Oak Lawn police evacuated the area and roped off the street with crime scene tape.

Oak Lawn police requested the assistance of the South Suburban Emergency Response Team (SSERT). For about six hours, law enforcement officers tried through various means to contact the man. Police could be heard calling to the man on a bullhorn. The emergency response team were able to deploy a drone. When the man inside did not appear to be moving around the apartment, officers entered where they found the man deceased.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office is investigating. No further information will be released pending the medical examiner’s ruling as to the cause of death.

Assisting Oak Lawn police were SSERT, the Cook County Department of Homeland Security and Management, and the Hometown, Burbank, Worth and Alsip police departments. OLPD also thanks residents in the area for their cooperation and patience.

Patch editor Feroze Dhanoa contributed to the report.