A Chicagoland middle school became a crime scene, when an assistant principal was brutally killed in a shooting that left three others dead.
Assistant principal fatally shot outside of middle school
Authorities confirmed that Nerissa Lee, assistant principal at Lincoln Middle School in Berwyn, Illinois, was among the victims of the violent incident.
According to Berwyn North School District 98, the fatal encounter unfolded just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday near the school.
Police reported that around 4:05 p.m., officers nearby heard bursts of gunfire right next to the middle school.
They discovered the source of the gunshots was a man shooting a rifle directly into a vehicle.
When law enforcement officers attempted to intervene, the gunman shot in their direction. The officers did not fire back and instead sought cover, but the gunman ended up killing himself with his own weapon.
Inside the targeted vehicle, officers discovered two deceased victims, including Lee.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later identified the second victim as 54-year-old Steven T. Lee.
The third victim killed during the violent outburst has not yet been identified.
Superintendent Michelle Smith confirmed Lee’s death in a letter to families of students at the school.
“It is with great sadness that I announce to you that Nerissa Lee, Assistant Principal at Lincoln Middle School, lost her life in yesterday’s tragic shooting that occurred outside of Lincoln,” she stated.
Although the attack unfolded alarmingly close to children, officials reassured parents that no students were physically harmed.
Investigators described the deadly confrontation as a domestic-related matter and indicated there was no broader threat to the community.
The Berwyn Police Department issued its own statement of condolence, describing Lee as an educator who made a lasting impact.
“The impact of this loss is deeply felt not only within the school community but throughout Berwyn,” the department said.
“Assistant Principal Lee was a dedicated educator and leader who touched the lives of countless students and staff members.”
Authorities further noted that they remain committed to supporting the community while pursuing answers about the tragic sequence of events.
Assistant principal dead after fleeing from police
The shocking incident follows another devastating case involving a school administrator, this time in Maine, where a fiery crash claimed the life of Scarborough High School’s assistant principal.
Jacob Brown, 34, was pulled over by state troopers around 9:30 p.m. Saturday after multiple complaints that his Jeep Wrangler was being driven recklessly on Interstate 295 near Richmond.
After briefly stopping, Brown suddenly sped away from the traffic stop at high speed.
Troopers gave chase, but moments later, Brown’s Jeep veered off the road and slammed into a wooded area, bursting into flames on impact.
Brown, who police confirmed was not wearing a seatbelt, was thrown from the vehicle.
State troopers attempted to revive him at the scene, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
Investigators believe both speeding and alcohol played major roles in the deadly wreck.
Jill St. Louis, a family friend, said the community was shaken by the news of Brown’s fiery demise.
“I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of judgment and a lot of thoughts imposed on what actually happened,” she told WMTW.
Brown had been known not only as an administrator but as a former youth hockey coach and the assistant athletic director at Scarborough.
St. Louis called the loss “unbelievably tragic,” noting, “a really great life was lost, and I think that’s where the focus needs to be.”
In Scarborough, students and families gathered outside the high school for a growing memorial, with classes canceled Monday..
Another community is also grappling with the death of a respected educator.
Wake Forest educator slain by teen cousins
In Wake Forest, North Carolina, 56-year-old Ericka Ruffin Lucas, a former principal of Rolesville High School, was shot and killed late last month in what police said was crossfire from a neighborhood shooting.
She was the wife of Wake Forest High School’s well-known football coach.
On August 29, officers responded to calls of shots fired on East Nelson Avenue and found Lucas suffering from life-threatening injuries.
Authorities said she was “not the intended target” and was instead struck by bullets meant for someone else. She later succumbed to her injuries, leaving the school community in mourning.
Police announced that a 16-year-old suspect was taken into custody on August 30.
Following Lucas’ death, officers also charged 18-year-old Dexter Lamont Mills Jr. with murder.
Mills, who is being held without bond at the Wake County Jail, also faces charges of possessing a stolen firearm.
Prosecutors have not clarified if that weapon was the one that killed Lucas.
Mills and the 16-year-old, who is his cousin, are both behind bars awaiting trial.
The juvenile suspect had already been facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill and inflicting serious injury.
