2 Dead in Shooting at Southwest Side Chicago Elementary School
Two school custodians were killed in a shooting inside Mark Twain Elementary School on Chicago’s Southwest Side Monday afternoon, August 10, 2026, according to Chicago police and the employees’ union.
Police said officers found a 63-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman unresponsive inside the school in the 5100 block of South Lotus Avenue around 3:40 p.m. Both had suffered gunshot wounds and were taken to Christ Hospital in critical condition. They were later pronounced dead.
The shooting happened at a time when Chicago Public Schools was not in session. No students were inside the building when the incident occurred, according to a letter from the school’s principal.
The Brief
Chicago police responded to Mark Twain Elementary School in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood Monday afternoon after reports of gunfire inside the building.
Officers found two adults unresponsive at approximately 3:40 p.m., according to police. The victims were identified as a 63-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman.
Police said each victim had suffered a gunshot wound to the head. Both were transported to Christ Hospital in critical condition before being pronounced dead.
The employees’ union, SEIU Local 73, confirmed that the two victims were custodians at the school. The union represents custodial staff working for Chicago Public Schools.
Trumaine Reeves, executive vice president of SEIU Local 73, said the union’s immediate concern was with the families of the two victims and the school community.
What We Know
The shooting occurred at Mark Twain Elementary School in Chicago’s Garfield Ridge neighborhood.
The school was not holding regular classes when the shooting happened. According to the school principal, no students were inside the building at the time.
The principal notified parents and guardians about the incident and said the school had contacted Chicago police and the Chicago Public Schools Office of Safety and Security.
The principal also said additional details could not be released because of the active investigation.
Chicago police recovered a weapon at the scene, according to authorities. Area One detectives were assigned to investigate the deaths.
Police have not released the names of the two victims.
Authorities also have not publicly explained what led to the shooting. A motive has not been announced, and police have not confirmed whether the two victims knew each other.
Police are currently classifying one of the deaths as a homicide, according to ABC7 Chicago. The circumstances surrounding the second death have not been fully explained publicly.
The available reporting does not establish a motive or provide a confirmed account of what happened immediately before the shooting.
What’s Next
Area One detectives are investigating the shooting, according to Chicago police. The school principal said the school will provide additional information to the school community as the investigation proceeds, while noting that details cannot currently be shared because the investigation remains active.
Students are scheduled to return to Mark Twain Elementary School on August 24, according to the latest local reporting. No students were present when the shooting occurred.
Police have not announced a motive, released the victims’ names, or announced an arrest in the latest reports reviewed for this article. The investigation remains ongoing.
