Woman stabbed to death while working in Wicker Park: police

A 32-year-old woman was stabbed to death at her job Sunday in Wicker Park on the North Side.

Chicago police say a knife-wielding man entered a Walgreens drug store located in the 1300 block of North Milwaukee Avenue Sunday at 9:30 a.m. following a customer in.

Police say just four aisles from the front doors, the man confronted a female store employee and brutally stabbed her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Community Activist Andrew Holmes says the woman was 32-years-old. She worked at this Walgreens for just under two years and leaves behind two children.

“The offender walked into the store, observed the victim who was an employee of the store, fatally stabs her and then he proceeds to leave,” said Chicago police officer Jose Jara with News Affairs.

No money or items were stolen, police said. The motive remains unclear.

Police say the suspect took off through the store parking lot, walking down Wolcott. There’s a good chance somebody captured him on video and police are now canvassing the area hoping to find it.

“It is a little rattling to hear that something like this happened here in a neighborhood at first glance seems to be a very safe place to spend time in,” said Danny Seidita who is visiting Wicker Park this weekend from out of town.

“I guess it is what it is. I don’t know. It’s not good, it’s pretty scary,” said Brent Feniek, Wicker Park resident.

It’s especially alarming since police report this is not the first alert for this Walgreens this week.

“Yea, there was a business alert that went out a couple days ago regarding a Walgreens in the area, so I think detectives are still working on that as well,” said Officer Jara.

Police say a man with a knife attempted to rob one Walgreens and was successful in robbing the other. Those include this Wicker Park location, and one nearby on North Avenue. In February, a serial robber targeted Walgreens in Lincoln Park, Logan Square and Wicker Park. 

“There’s been a lot of crime obviously in the neighborhood, but I still love the neighborhood, love walking around,” said Leah Sallen, Wicker Park resident.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office has not commented on the death.

Walgreens said in a statement they're doing everything they can to help police. Anonymous tips can be made at CPDTip.com.

Area Five detectives are investigating.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.