Police: Husband and wife — both law enforcement officers — dead in murder-suicide

Michael Lansu — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 11:02:21 -0500

BY GEORGE SLEFO
Sun-Times Media

A Chicago Police officer and her husband, a Cook County Sheriff’s correctional officer, were found dead in their Southwest Side home Sunday in a murder-suicide, authorities said.

The correctional officer apparently shot his wife before shooting himself, said Cook County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Cara Smith.

“This is a tremendous tragedy any day – particularly on Easter Sunday,” Smith said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.”

The couple has been identified as 50-year-old Javier and 49-year-old Veronica Acevedo, authorities said.

Just after 5 a.m. someone inside the Garfield Ridge home, located in the 5300 block of South Austin Avenue, called 911, Smith said.

Chicago police found them unresponsive inside the home a short time later.

A Monday autopsy determined Veronica Acevedo died of a gunshot wound to the head and the death was ruled a homicide, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office. Javier Acevedo died of a gunshot wound to the head and the death was ruled a suicide.

Veronica Acevedo served 18 years with the Chicago Police Department and had won 23 “department awards” during her career, said Chicago Police Officer Jose Estrada, a department spokesman. Her husband served 25 years as a Cook County Sheriff’s correctional officer, according to Smith, the sheriff’s spokeswoman.

Javier Acevedo | Homicide Watch Chicago

Police: Husband and wife — both law enforcement officers — dead in murder-suicide