Chicago Sports

Brad Weert often saw a family walk together around the Oak Forest neighborhood where he has lived for almost three decades.

On Friday morning, at least four members of the family were dead after gunfire erupted during a house fire. A person barricaded themselves in the home.

“You hear it in the news and you just hope that one day it doesn’t come to your neighborhood,” Weert, 57, told the Chicago Sun-Times.

About 6:35 a.m. police responded to a domestic call in the 5500 block of Ann Marie Lane and found two people shot in the driveway and a third shot in the roadway south of the home, according to Oak Forest police.

All three died of their injuries, police said. Their names haven’t been released.

Police say a child was released from the home shortly before the fire started.

After the fire was extinguished, police say they found a fourth person who died, who was believed to be the suspect. It was unclear how he died.

Anyone living in the area of the home was initially told to shelter in place.As of 10 a.m., officials said there was no longer a threat to the community.

Neighbors stood outside watching as police and fire officials continued to investigate. A woman could be heard wailing as she was ushered farther away from the burnt home.

“[The neighborhood] is so quiet,” said Sirena Velazquez, 30. “The only thing exciting that goes on in this street are the football or baseball games.”

“It’s scary,” added Velazquez, who has lived in the neighborhood for over five years. “I have three little ones. … I don’t want anything happening to them.”

Weert said he heard “three pops” from inside his house Friday morning and came outside to find “flames going as many as 10 feet above the roofline.”

He said he’s known the family for over a decade and helped them during a severe rainstorm after they first moved in.

He described a man who lived in the house as “an ex-Marine who mostly kept to himself.”

“You don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors,” Weert said. “We all have to realize when we need help.”

Authorities encourage anyone with information to contact Detective Sgt. Ryan Burnett at 708-687-1376 or [email protected].

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Joseph Kromelis, known as “The Walking Man” or “The Walking Dude,” has been released from the hospital about four months after he was set on fire while sleeping on Lower Wabash Avenue.

Doctors initially said the 75-year-old was not expected to recover after he was lit on fire for nearly three minutes the night of May 25. His upper body was engulfed in flames, and he received third-degree burns over 65% of his body.

As of Friday, Kromelis had been discharged from Stroger Hospital. He will continue to recover at a rehab facility and will have to undergo additional surgeries.

“He is grateful for everyone’s concern and asks that his privacy be respected,” according to a statement from Cook County Health.

Kromelis — a homeless man, known for walking the streets of the Loop — was sleeping under blankets in the 400 block of North Lower Wabash Avenue when surveillance cameras captured Joseph Guardia, 27, walking up and standing over him silently for 16 seconds, prosecutors said in a court hearing in May.

The video allegedly shows Guardia walking to a nearby intersection then returning and pouring gasoline over Kromelis’ uncovered head and igniting it.

Guardia provided no other motive than “being an angry person, and claimed he wanted to burn trash but did not realize there was a person there.”

Six years ago — on May 24, 2016 — Kromelis was brutally beaten by someone with a baseball bat in the 400 block of East Lower Wacker Drive. The two were struggling over the bat when police arrived.

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At least four people have died after a fire broke out in a home with a person barricaded inside Friday morning, officials said.

Police were initially called to a domestic situation in the 5500 block of Ann Marie Lane, according to City of Oak Forest spokeswoman Chrissy Maher.

A person barricaded themself in that home and a fire broke out, Oak Forest police said.

Four people died in the incident, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Anyone living in the area of the home was initially told to shelter in place.As of 10 a.m., officials said there was no longer a threat to the community.

Authorities have not provided any additional information on the incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

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Jake McCabe might not miss much of the Blackhawks’ regular season after all.

The 28-year-old defenseman clarified Friday — after participating in a non-contact jersey in both of the first two practices of training camp — that he underwent cervical spine surgery in early August, not mid-September as previously thought.

That means he’s expected to return to action four to six weeks — rather than 10 to 12 weeks — from now. He likely won’t play opening night Oct. 12, but he could return within a few games afterward.

“I haven’t had contact yet, so I don’t want to get ahead of myself,” McCabe said. “That’s going to be the real test with this injury. My legs feel good, but I still have to wait a couple of weeks for full battle contact. I’m just trying to stay patient with that. As good as I do feel, I’m trying not to get ahead of myself and take a step backward.”

On-and-off back pain has plagued McCabe for the past four or five years, he admitted, dating back well into his previous NHL tenure with the Sabres.

After playing 75 games for the Hawks last season, he started this summer still trying to fix or at least tolerate the issue through more conservative treatment approaches. But “that wasn’t doing the trick,” and surgery eventually became the clear next choice.

The operation removed a fragment of the herniated disc to remove pressure from a nearby nerve. McCabe was skating again about two weeks after surgery (four weeks ago now). Two more weeks from now, he anticipates he’ll be cleared to resume contact, although he has “already started pushing around a little bit.”

“Obviously I’d like to be fully healthy, but it wasn’t like I was not able to work out at all [this summer],” he said. “I tested well in off-ice workouts. I feel really good on the ice. I’m in shape.”

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At least four people have died after a fire broke out in a home with a person barricaded inside Friday morning, officials said.

Police were initially called to a domestic situation in the 5500 block of Ann Marie Lane, according to City of Oak Forest spokeswoman Chrissy Maher.

A person barricaded themself in that home and a fire broke out, Oak Forest police said.

Four people died in the incident, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Anyone living in the area of the home was initially told to shelter in place.As of 10 a.m., officials said there was no longer a threat to the community.

Authorities have not provided any additional information on the incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

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The Chicago Cubs have eyes set on contending in 2023

As a dreadful season for the Cubs wraps up, sights are being set on how this team will contend going forward. The Chicago Cubs have known for months now that they won’t be participating in the postseason this year with every loss that adds up sealing that fate. Thankfully the Cubs will avoid a 100 loss season for the fourth time in franchise history but Cubs fans all around the globe are wondering what this team needs to do to improve. Here’s what the Cubs need to focus on this offseason.

5. Shore up the bullpen

Anyone who watches baseball knows that teams that win championships usually have a top bullpen. The Cubs relievers are ranked 22nd in terms of ERA. This is not going to cut it. Having Keegan Thompson as the long man in the pen is a no doubter for next season but what about the rest of the pen? Brandon Hughes has been a nice surprise for the Cubs this season but two guys won’t cut it either. Adding guys who have postseason experience and know what it’s like to be in a big spot would only help benefit the Cubs pen.

Possible targets: Andrew Chafin, Will Smith, Will Harris

4. The Cubs NEED to Extend Wilson Contreas

After not trading Contreas at this years deadline, a lot of questions were raised based on the organizations direction. There’s simply no way that the offers the Cubs received for Contreas are less valuable than the compensation pick they’d receive if Contreas signs elsewhere in free agency after extending a qualifying offer. With the free agent catchers available this offseason, it is an absolute necessity that the Cubs extend Contreas before he hits the market. If they don’t who knows who will be behind the dish for the Chicago Cubs in 2023, but i’ll tell you this, if its not Wilson Contreas it will no doubt be a downgrade.

3. Add frontline pitching to the rotation

The Chicago Cubs have enjoyed the emergence of Justin Steele and aforementioned Keegan Thompson throughout the 22′ season. They also have top pitching prospect Hayden Wesneski ready to be added to the mix. With Kyle Hendricks season being cut short due to injury and another below average season from him, Hendricks can’t be counted on the way he used to be able to.

Luckily for the Cubs, they have options on how they want to address this issue. They could make a blockbuster trade for someone like the unicorn that is Shohei Ohtani, or they can sign either Carlos Rodon or possibly even Jacob DeGrom or maybe even Kodei Senga who is eyeing a move to the big leagues this winter. Either way the Cubs need to do everything in their power to add some serious punch to a rotation that desperately needs it.

2. The Chicago Cubs need a star

This upcoming offseason’s free agent class is and could be even more loaded. Particularly free agent shortstops. The Chicago Cubs could have their pick of the liter from names like Carlos Correa, who was consistently linked to the team last winter, Trea Turner, Dansby Swanson and possibly even Xander Bogaerts. The Cubs could also make a trade for Ohtani which would check two boxes, much needed frontline pitching and one heck of a bat to add to the lineup. The options to add a star to the fold are endless however if the Cubs come away with no stars this offseason, theres going to be some angry fans in Wrigleyville come next season.

1. A more permanent solution for first base

Ever since the Chicago Cubs and Anthony Rizzo have parted ways 1st base has been a revolving door for the Cubs. Luckily the likely solution will be inexpensive and within the organization already. That answer is Chicago Cubs prospect Matt Mervis.

If you aren’t familiar with Mervis, I suggest you familiarize yourself. Mervis has not only been one of the best performers in the Cubs minor league levels this season, but one of the best performers in all of minor league baseball. Mervis has absolutely dominated at every level the Cubs put him at. Mervis in 2022 has 34 HRs, 113 RBIs, and boasts a .311 batting average. In other words Matt Mervis absolutely rakes and is no doubt the future first baseman of the Chicago Cubs.

 

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Oak Forest authorities are responding to a fire at a home with a person barricaded inside Friday morning, officials said.

Police were initially called to a domestic situation in the 5500 block of Ann Marie Lane, according to City of Oak Forest spokeswoman Chrissy Maher.

A person barricaded themself in that home and a fire broke out, Oak Forest police said.

Anyone living in the area of the home was instructed to shelter in place.

Authorities have not provided any additional information on the incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

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Chicago Bears passing woes desperately hurting the team

The Chicago bears through two weeks of play have the worst passing attack in the entire NFL and it’s not that close. Bears QB Justin Fields has just 191 passing yards through two games and serious concerns are starting to arise around the young QB. In the most previous offseason , Chicago Bears GM Ryan poles declined to add a game changing WR, something the Bears desperately needed and that decision is proving very costly to Chicago and the development of their promising QB.

Who in the receiver room has stood out so far for the Chicago Bears

well….frankly nobody. The Chicago Bears leading receiver through two weeks of play is Equanimeous St. Brown with a grand total of 57 yards on 3 catches. The Bears Wide receiver room doesn’t even have someone with over 7 targets let alone catches. Rams WR Cooper Kupp collected 7 receptions in 8 minutes in week 2 for more perspective on how bad the Bears receivers have been so far.

Other teams that made a move for an elite level WR are already seeing dividends

A whopping 11 wide receivers signed new deals this previous offseason worth at least $20 million. The Bears were not able to sign a single one of them.

Look at Tyreek Hill, the guy is one of the fastest athletes on the face of the planet was probably at one point viewed as untouchable during his time with the Chiefs. This past offseason, Kansas City sent Hill packing for Miami in return for 5 future draft picks. Who do you think initiated this trade?

If you guessed the Miami Dolphins you would be 100% correct. The Dolphins desperately needed to add an elite WR to the mix and to pair with their young budding QB. Through Two weeks the Dolphins are 2-0 and Hill leads the league in receiving yards after a monster game against the Ravens in week 2. A game that ended up being the best of Tua Tagovailoa’s young career.

Now let’s look take a look at former Titans WR and now Eagles WR AJ Brown. The Titans basically claimed this offseason that Brown did not fit into their plans going forward and that he was available Via trade. I find it especially shocking that the Bears did not bring Brown aboard because of what the Eagles gave up.

The Eagles traded a 1st and 3rd round pick to acquire the talented AJ Brown. Now while 1st round picks are extremely valuable, I think this is a situation in which the Bears should have jumped at the bit to acquire an established star in exchange for a potential star (1st round pick). Brown through two weeks of play is sixth in the league in receiving yards.

Quarterbacks Derek Carr, Jalen Hurts, and Tua Tagovailoa all had their respective teams add a top receiver in the offseason. They have combined for 12 touchdowns and each have recorded a game in which they threw for at least 300 yards. Their teams are also three of the best performing offenses through two weeks as well. Adding a star WR has also made other WR’s on the team better.

For example, Jaylen Waddle also had a monster game for the Dolphins along side Hill in week two. Eagles former 1st rounder Devonta Smith has had a nice start to the season along Aj Brown’s side. Not adding a star WR not only hurt the development of Justin Fields, but also the development of every WR on the Chicago Bears. It really is a simple concept, when your team has a top notch WR, other teams are going to do everything they can to limit said star WR which ultimately opens up looks for other receivers on the team.

What this means for the future of the Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears are most likely going to look back at this previous offseason with a sour taste in their mouths. All because they did not add a high level WR. Next offseason there is no prominent WR’s available via free agency due to all the trades and contract extensions shelled out this previous offseason. That especially stings due to the fact that the Bears are projected to have the most salary cap space.

Looks for the Bears to target their WR problem through next year’s draft or via trade in the offseason. Give Fields a true WR1 in the offseason and watch what happens from that point on.

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Oak Forest authorities are responding to a fire at a home with a person barricaded inside Friday morning, officials said.

Police were initially called to a domestic situation in the 5500 block of Ann Marie Lane, according to City of Oak Forest spokeswoman Chrissy Maher.

A person barricaded themself in that home and a fire broke out, Oak Forest police said.

Anyone living in the area of the home was instructed to shelter in place.

Authorities have not provided any additional information on the incident.

This is a developing story. Check back for details.

Read More