Eyewitness News WTVO WQRF published June 26, 2022: Man charged with Murder after Suburban Chicago shooting. More information has been released about the deadly triple shooting at a Suburban Chicago warehouse.
WGN News published June 26, 2022: Triple shooting at Bolingbrook warehouse leaves 1 dead; Man in custody. A man was killed and a second man is in critical condition following a shooting at WeatherTech’s distribution center in Bolingbrook.
ABC News, Chicago
written by Tre Ward and Maher Kawash, Stephanie Wade and ABC7 Chicago Digital Team
Saturday June 25, 2022
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (WLS) -- A 27-year-old Chicago man has been charged with shooting three people, one fatally, at a south suburban WeatherTech warehouse early Saturday, authorities said.
The alleged shooter has been identified as Charles C. McKnight Jr., of Chicago's Fernwood neighborhood, according to police.
Bolingbrook officers responded to a call of a person shot at 1 WeatherTech Way at about 6:25 a.m., Media Captain Anthony Columbus said.
"Cops were just everywhere. All by WeatherTech, all in the hospital parking lot, and then when I came here on my block, cops had a cop car sitting there. He had the guns out," said William Miller, who lives nearby.
Upon arrival, officers immediately entered the building to address and stop the reported threat and to prevent any further victims or injuries, police said.
"You know what can happen, you don't ever think it's going to happen right here in front of your house," Miller said.
Police combed through a neighborhood behind the facility looking for the shooter after they say he fled the warehouse following the shooting.
Police said he was located and placed in custody at approximately 9:25 a.m.
"My backyard was full of police officers with rifles," said Cathy Ambrose, who also lives nearby.
"I saw them all out here and one of them told me what happened and to go back in because they hadn't caught the guy yet, so I came back in the house and locked up everything," Ambrose said.
"They were walking across the yard and came up to the door and asked me, 'Hey, have you seen him?' I said no, I didn't see nobody," Miller added.
Bolingbrook Police Chief Mike Rompa detailed in a video, released by his department, what led up to the fatal encounter.
"Near the end of the overnight shift, the offender was confronted by employees after the offender allegedly robbed two co-workers, stealing a watch and wallet at gunpoint," he said.
When confronted, an argument ensued and McKnight allegedly pulled out a handgun and shot three co-workers, police said.
This shooting does not appear to be premeditated and the gun used was recovered, police added.
One victim, identified as 37-year-old Central Hightower from Plainfield, has died, according to police. A 25-year-old man, who police say was one of the earlier robbery victims, is in critical condition. A third victim, a 43-year-old man, has been released from the hospital. All three were WeatherTech employees.
"That's the scary part because, you know, our kids. There's a lot of kids around here and we let them outside to go play, ride their bike," Miller said.
Upon arrest, police said McKnight was in possession of the alleged stolen items.
His arrest brings some ease to the community, but the gun violence is a reminder of a looming concern.
"That's the world we are in. A shooting can take place anywhere. Home, church, schools, stores, Walmart, anywhere," Ambrose said.
McKnight is charged with 1 count of First Degree Murder, and two counts of Attempted First Degree Murder. Additional charges are pending, police said.
McKnight was with a temporary employment agency and was only assigned to the WeatherTech Facility since June 9, 2022, police added.
There were multiple police units were in the area for an ongoing investigation into the shooting.
"On behalf of our Mayor Mary Alexander Basta, the Village of Bolingbrook, our police department and WeatherTech - our thoughts and prayers are extended to the victim's and their families," Bolingbrook Police Chief Mike Rompa said.
Democratic Congressman Bill Foster issued a statement on the shooting:
"Today, our community has been shattered by yet another act of senseless gun violence. Words cannot express the heartbreak the victims and their families are feeling right now. My thoughts are with them during these difficult times," Foster said. "This is a statement I had hoped I would never have to make again in my career. Just three years ago, a shooting at Henry Pratt in Aurora took five innocent lives and injured six police officers. Fourteen years ago, one of my first official acts as a Congressman was to attend memorial services for the victims of the NIU shootings in DeKalb. No one should have to worry about random gun violence while going about their normal lives, and we cannot accept this as a new reality... While the details are still developing, it's clear we owe a debt of gratitude to the law enforcement and first responders who work tirelessly to keep our communities safe, and rush into harm's way to protect innocent people."
CBS Chicago published June 27, 2022: WeatherTech deadly shooting suspect had priors. One person died and two others were injured at a WeatherTech facility. CBS 2's 's Shardaa Gray has more.
CBS News, Chicago local
written by Staff
Monday June 27, 2022
CHICAGO -- We're learning new details about the suspect in the deadly shooting at a well known business in south suburban Bolingbrook.
One person died and two others were injured at a WeatherTech facility. CBS 2's 's Shardaa Gray has more.
Bond is set for $5 million for the man accused of shooting and killing one worker, and wounding two others at the WeatherTech facility in Bolingbrook Saturday.
Twenty-seven-year-old Charles McKnight is accused of murdering 37-year-old Central Hightower.
Prosecutors said near the end of the overnight shift, employees at WeatherTech confronted McKnight, saying he robbed two coworkers and stole a watch and a wallet at gunpoint.
This started an argument that led to the shooting, which police said does not appear to be premeditated. When police arrested him, officers found the stolen items on McKnight as well as a handgun.
He worked for a temporary employment agency called REM, a family owned company, located in Forest Park.
We went there find out about their hiring policy and background checks, which passed along the request to its media relations spokesperson, who said the company was shocked after finding out about the deadly shooting.
WeatherTech uses another company to do background checks that go back at least seven years. McKnight's information came back clear.
The company said he also signed an affidavit, saying he didn't have any priors. He did face criminal charges in several cases: in 2016, for disorderly conduct, in 2015, criminal trespass to vehicle, in 2014, simple assault and in 2013, he had a charge of disorderly conduct.
But all of the charges were dropped.
McKnight had been assigned to the WeatherTech facility in Bolingbrook since June 9. One of the men shot is in critical condition, the third man who was wounded was treated and released from the hospital on Saturday.
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