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Triple homicide suspect killed in shootout with Berwyn police
A man suspected of a triple homicide was fatally shot by police Wednesday night after a series of violent incidents in Berwyn.
BERWYN, Ill. - A man suspected of a triple homicide was fatally shot by Berwyn officers on Wednesday night after a series of violent incidents, including a shootout with police.
The suspect has been identified as 24-year-old John R. Lyons, of Westchester, Ill., according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Now, investigators are trying to piece together his motive for allegedly killing a family of three downstate, then traveling to Berwyn, where police said he broke into a home and killed two dogs.
At approximately 11:38 p.m., Berwyn police responded to a report of a person with a gun in the 1800 block of Home Avenue. When officers arrived, they spotted a man who fled on foot and managed to escape.
"We heard a bunch of stuff going on in the gangway. I heard cops talking and everything and then I was woken up to yelling," said Matt, who lives on the block.
On Thursday, neighbors described the commotion from the night before.
"And then we heard possible gunshots," Matt added. "Cop cars lined up here, back in the alleyway too."
"I woke up to something that sounded almost like either a door slam or someone dropping something really loud," said one woman, who asked not to be identified. "The cops were talking about how they were looking for someone and I heard on their radio that they were looking for someone that was on foot."
Lyons forced his way into a home in the 1800 block of Wenonah Avenue, where he shot and killed two dogs, according to police.
Then, they described Lyons running eastbound through a backyard, where Berwyn Police Chief Mike Cimaglia said the suspect ignored their verbal commands to stop and opened fire on officers.
Surveillance video captures the sound of gunfire in the 1800 block of Home Avenue.
In response, police returned fire, fatally striking the man. No officers were injured in the exchange.
"Three cops stayed behind there, looked through what the shooter left, which was a backpack. They went through it, they found his ID there so that’s how they were able to identify him right away," the woman added.
Police soon discovered a disturbing connection.
An initial investigation revealed Lyons was wanted in a triple homicide that occurred at 9:41 p.m. that same night in the 1100 block of Riverside Drive in Mahomet, Ill.—just two hours prior to the officer-involved shooting in Berwyn.
"Mahomet is responding to a shooting, three victims," a dispatcher can be heard stating on police scanner audio. "Suspect vehicle possibly northbound towards Route 150."
The three victims, who were family members, were killed in a shooting incident, according to officials. They were identified by the Champaign County Coroner on Thursday as 61-year-old Janis Mason, 23-year-old Caleb Mason, and 26-year-old Sara Mason.
Illinois State Police is assisting the Mahomet Police Department with its investigation.
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force is also investigating the officer-involved shooting in Berwyn.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the Berwyn’s confidential police hotline at 708-749-6564.
This is a developing story, and updates will be posted as they become available.