Nationwide — Nerissa Lee, an assistant principal at Lincoln Middle School in Berwyn, Illinois, was killed by her husband in a shooting outside the campus on Tuesday afternoon. Her mother was also shot and killed before the husband turned the gun on himself, police said.
The shooting happened on Tuesday around 4 p.m. near the school entrance on 16th Street. Police officers nearby heard gunfire and rushed to the scene. They saw a man shooting into a vehicle and briefly came under fire before the man killed himself with the same rifle, according to NBC Chicago.
Authorities identified the victims as Lee, her mother, and her husband, Steven. The Cook County Medical Examiner confirmed that Steven died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Relatives said the couple’s relationship had been strained since June and had reached a breaking point.
Lee’s sister, Shana Everage, said the tragedy was not unexpected. “I mean, it’s a horrible thing, you know, I have a lot of emotions. I don’t quite know what to feel,” she said.
Berwyn North School District 98 and local police expressed grief over the loss. “Assistant Principal Lee was a dedicated educator and leader who touched the lives of countless students and staff members,” police said in their update.
Classes at Lincoln Middle School are expected to resume on Thursday. Counselors will be available to support students and staff during this time.