Dhamer - Cops say gunman waited in ambush
Indigo Ace
Cops say gunman waited in ambush
Wife of Park Ridge executive saw his killer, dialed 911
By Charles Sheehan, Carolyn Rusin and George Houde, Chicago Tribune.
Charles Sheehan is a Tribune staff reporter; Carolyn Rusin and George
Houde are freelance reporters. Tribune staff reporter John Ke
Published November 15, 2006
Investigators gave a chilling account Tuesday of the last moments of
Gerald Dhamer's life but said they were no closer to solving a slaying
as perplexing as it was brutal.
Dhamer, 48, an executive of a plumbing company, was shot dead Monday
morning on his front lawn in Park Ridge by a masked, shotgun-wielding
assailant, police said.
Dhamer walked out the front door of his home about 6:15 a.m., the time
he usually left for his business in Lisle. But before he made it to
his car, which he already had started by remote control, he was
confronted by a gunman who authorities believe was waiting in ambush.
Park Ridge Police Chief Jeffrey Caudill said Dhamer's wife, Cathy,
heard him speaking to someone just before gunshots tore through the
morning quiet. The assailant, wearing a ski mask, fired two or more
shots at Dhamer, striking him in the head and chest, Caudill said.
Dhamer's wife saw the attacker, Caudill said. She called 911, but by
the time authorities arrived, Dhamer was dead of what the Cook County
medical examiner's office said were multiple gunshot wounds.
"We believe that after the assailant fired the weapon at the victim,
he got in a car and left the scene," he said. "Witnesses said they
heard a vehicle moments, seconds after hearing shots."
Investigators don't have a motive or any promising leads, according to
Caudill, who said 29 detectives are on the case.
Police found two spent shells at the scene, he said.
Workers at Dhamer's business, Jim Dhamer Plumbing and Sewer, declined
to comment Tuesday, saying police had asked them not to speak with the
news media. Dhamer's family--he has two grown children--also declined
to speak to the Tribune.
Caudill said police didn't know why someone would want to kill Dhamer.
Meanwhile, classes resumed at Embers Elementary School across the
street, but with no one in custody and police tape still strung across
Dhamer's yard, outdoor activities were canceled.
"We thought that would be the most prudent thing to do until the crime
scene investigation is completed," said Principal Gladys Davis.
She said teachers at the school, which had canceled Monday's classes
after the shooting, stressed three things to returning pupils: They
were safe in class, the slaying was an isolated tragedy and they
should pray.
"We are very confident in our teachers and their ability to address
any situation," Davis said. "It helps that parents had the chance to
be with students yesterday."
Neighbors cast wary glances at the scene of the shooting as they
arrived home from work Tuesday afternoon.
At the Pickwick Restaurant in downtown Park Ridge, customers swapped
speculation about the crime and expressed amazement that their
normally quiet suburb could be the site of such violence.
"It's just not something you put together, Park Ridge and an ambush,"
said resident Jim Grubbs, 46. "It's not what you would ever expect."
Sharon Boland, 53, said she lives about two blocks from where the
shooting took place.
"It is just so out of the ordinary," she said. "I don't think the
immediate inclination is to think this is a wave of violence. It's a
shock, but no one is looking for more of the same in the future."
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csheehan;@tribune.com
Copyright © 2006, Chicago Tribune
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0611150050nov15,1,5722060.story?coll=chi-news-hed
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Michael Snyder
speculating that the husband had hired a hit-man to kill the wife.
"Indigo Ace" <indi...@seesignature.com> wrote in message
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