William Strickland's Saturday was supposed to start like it normally did: with an early-morning trip out of his Roseland neighborhood for kidney dialysis.
But before he could reach the Pace paratransit service van waiting to take him to his 3:30 a.m. appointment, Strickland, 72, was shot and killed in an apparent robbery just outside his home on Chicago's South Side, officials said.
Two males approached Strickland in a gangway near his home in the 400 block of East 95th Street as the retired steelworker made his way to the idling van, Chicago police said.
The shots woke up some of the residents of a neighborhood that is usually quiet, they say.
"All I heard was three shots" said Theolene Shears, 84, who lives next door to Strickland.
Strickland was pronounced dead at the scene at about 4 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. His family wouldn't comment.
Chicago police said robbery appeared to be the motive. As of Saturday evening, no suspects were in custody and the investigation continued, police said.
Neighbors said they haven't had many problems with violence or crime on the block.
"It's very quiet," Shears said. "That's what me and my husband were saying, that it is so shocking that he is gone."
Strickland had lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years, according to neighbors. They described him as friendly and welcoming, adding that he left behind his wife, daughter and three grandchildren. The family had recently acquired a "peanut-sized" pet Chihuahua, Shears said.
"He was a good man," said Joshua Miles, 14, a friend of the family. "He always kept you laughing."
Strickland had been undergoing treatment for his kidneys for about five years and went to dialysis three times a week, Shears said. He preferred to go in the early mornings to get it out of the way, she added.
"He seemed to be very happy about it. The way he talked, it was like a little social club," said Shears, adding that he eased her own concerns about potentially having to receive the treatment.
"He was just there for us," said Shears, who has lived in the area since about 1965. "He was a very nice neighbor. We couldn't ask for a better neighbor."
Article By Naomi Nix and Peter Nickeas, Chicago Tribune reporters, March 3, 2013
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-dialysis-patient-killed-20130303,0,6890594.story
Copyright © 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LL
But before he could reach the Pace paratransit service van waiting to take him to his 3:30 a.m. appointment, Strickland, 72, was shot and killed in an apparent robbery just outside his home on Chicago's South Side, officials said.
Two males approached Strickland in a gangway near his home in the 400 block of East 95th Street as the retired steelworker made his way to the idling van, Chicago police said.
The shots woke up some of the residents of a neighborhood that is usually quiet, they say.
"All I heard was three shots" said Theolene Shears, 84, who lives next door to Strickland.
Strickland was pronounced dead at the scene at about 4 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. His family wouldn't comment.
Chicago police said robbery appeared to be the motive. As of Saturday evening, no suspects were in custody and the investigation continued, police said.
Neighbors said they haven't had many problems with violence or crime on the block.
"It's very quiet," Shears said. "That's what me and my husband were saying, that it is so shocking that he is gone."
Strickland had lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years, according to neighbors. They described him as friendly and welcoming, adding that he left behind his wife, daughter and three grandchildren. The family had recently acquired a "peanut-sized" pet Chihuahua, Shears said.
"He was a good man," said Joshua Miles, 14, a friend of the family. "He always kept you laughing."
Strickland had been undergoing treatment for his kidneys for about five years and went to dialysis three times a week, Shears said. He preferred to go in the early mornings to get it out of the way, she added.
"He seemed to be very happy about it. The way he talked, it was like a little social club," said Shears, adding that he eased her own concerns about potentially having to receive the treatment.
"He was just there for us," said Shears, who has lived in the area since about 1965. "He was a very nice neighbor. We couldn't ask for a better neighbor."
Article By Naomi Nix and Peter Nickeas, Chicago Tribune reporters, March 3, 2013
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-dialysis-patient-killed-20130303,0,6890594.story
Copyright © 2013 Chicago Tribune Company, LL
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