Investigation Continues Into Oak Park Murder

Update, Friday 5 p.m. District 97 Superintendent Al Roberts released the following statement regarding Thursday's homicide. A child of victim Pedro Gurrola Jr. was enrolled at Percy Julian Middle School.

"This is a tragic event for this family, as well as for the members of our community. We have social workers at our schools who are available if any of our students, staff or parents/guardians want to talk about what happened. We are also working closely with the family to ensure its needs and wishes are being met."

Update, Friday 11 a.m. Police in Oak Park remain tight-lipped about developments in Thursday's homicide, but police officials say they are still "operating under the assumption" that Pedro Gurrola Jr. was targeted and his murder was not a random act of violence.

Pedro Gurolla Jr. walked into his garage Thursday morning and set off for another day at work as a part-time postal worker.

Before leaving his south Oak Park home around 6:45 a.m., the 41-year-old husband and father was bludgeoned in the back of the head and left to die.

More than three hours had passed before Gurolla's wife discovered his bloodied body in the garage and dialed 911.

Gurolla's vehicle, a red or maroon 1997 Chevrolet Lumina, was stolen from the garage, located in an alley in the 800 block of South East Avenue. The vehicle's license plate reads 8479360, police said.

Gurrola had worked as a part-time letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service's Buffalo Grove office, according to the USPS.

Oak Park Police Chief Rick Tanksley said investigators "don't believe this was a random act."

"We don't think the community has cause for fear," he said.

Still, officials at nearby Ascension Catholic Church and School canceled Thursday's recess and a student recycling outing, which would've taken place about a block from the crime scene.

Residents of the surrounding neighborhood were stunned.

Many neighbors said their block, located just north of the Eisenhower Expressway and bordered by Rehm Park, the Oak Park Conservatory and Ascension's campus, is relatively safe.

"It's as good as it gets," said Leonard Calderia, 40, resident of an apartment complex near the crime scene. "I've always felt safe here."

Michelle Moline, 28, moved to Oak Park more than a year ago because of its "reputation for being a family area."

"There's the church, the kids. There's always people around," she said. "I feel safe. But this is really scary."

Monica Delamore, 42, lives on nearby South Highland Avenue. She said there has been a lot of minor garage crimes in the area, which prompted her family to install security systems.

"But this isn't some garage crime," she said. "It happened in the morning. Oh my goodness."

Police are asking anyone with information to call the Oak Park Police Department at 708-386-3800.