Chicago Heights CEO killed in office
Andre Thomas, who led a violence prevention group, died Saturday night from multiple gunshot wounds.
By Aiko Sato ·
Residents of Cook County lost a prominent local advocate for violence prevention on Saturday night. Andre Thomas, 57, was found dead inside his office in Chicago Heights after being shot multiple times.
Chicago Heights police officers located Thomas in the 400 block of West 14th Street at approximately 9:25 p.m. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Paramedics transported him to a nearby hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead. The Cook County medical examiner’s office later ruled his death a homicide.
Thomas lived in Matteson and served as the CEO and Executive Director of Integrity & Fidelity. His organization focused on areas of Chicago and the south suburbs that experience high rates of gun violence. Ald. David Moore of Chicago’s 17th Ward confirmed the shooting occurred at Thomas' office in a statement posted to social media.
Moore described the loss as unimaginable for Thomas' family and colleagues. He also noted the impact on the communities Thomas served through his leadership and service. Thomas' relatives declined to speak with reporters on Monday morning.
In past discussions with local media, Thomas argued that financial investment in affected neighborhoods was essential to lowering gun violence rates. He said-Times that people with full-time jobs are less likely to be involved in shootings. He stated, "No one with a 40-hour job is going out and shooting and killing."
The shooting happened in a suburban setting, but Thomas' work had direct implications for residents across the county. Police have not yet released information about a suspect or the circumstances leading up to the incident.
