Crime
40-year-old Elliot Wilkinson killed in New Orleans terror attack
New Orleans, LA – Family members have confirmed that 40-year-old Elliot Wilkinson is among the victims of the devastating terror attack that occurred on New Year’s Day along Bourbon Street in New Orleans.
Elliot’s brother, Cecil Wilkinson of Lafayette, expressed his grief and heartbreak in a heartfelt post on Facebook.
“I know life was hard for you at times,” Cecil wrote. “I wasn’t expecting to get the phone call.”
The Wilkinson family is grappling with the sudden loss of their loved one as they join the broader community in mourning the lives lost during the attack.
The tragedy unfolded early in the morning when a truck plowed into a crowd of people, killing 15 and leaving several others injured. Authorities have since identified the suspect as 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, who was shot and killed by police after the attack.
Elliot Wilkinson’s life, like those of the other victims, was tragically cut short in an act of senseless violence. His family, along with the families of all those affected, are calling for justice and peace during this difficult time.
Investigations into the attack are ongoing. Community members have been encouraged to share any information that may assist authorities in their inquiries.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.