CHICAGO — A horrifying domestic tragedy unfolded in the Logan Square neighborhood on the morning of July 4, when a 45-year-old mother allegedly stabbed her three children — killing her 4-year-old son — before setting their home on fire.
Brutal Morning Unfolds in Logan Square
Police were dispatched to the 3600 block of West Palmer Street just after 9 a.m. following a distress call reporting “a person with a knife.” When officers arrived, they encountered flames engulfing the home, and cries for help coming from a basement window.
An officer on the scene could be heard urgently saying, “I got this child yelling for help down in the basement window… I do see blood… The mother’s supposed to be upstairs with a knife,” as captured in dispatch radio logs.
As first responders fought to rescue the victims, the fire spread to a neighboring building. Two adults in the adjacent home — a 31-year-old woman and a 34-year-old man — suffered smoke inhalation and were transported to Stroger Hospital in fair condition.
4-Year-Old Killed, Two Siblings Hospitalized
Inside the burning home, firefighters and police discovered three children with serious stab wounds. The youngest victim, identified as 4-year-old Jordan Wallace, had suffered a fatal stab wound to the chest. He was transported to Stroger Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Jordan’s 10-year-old brother remains hospitalized in serious condition after being stabbed in the arm. Their 13-year-old sister is in critical condition with multiple stab wounds to the face, chest, and back.
Chicago police believe their mother, who was taken into custody at the scene, is responsible for the brutal attack. Her identity has not been publicly released.
Three officers involved in the rescue also suffered from smoke inhalation and were hospitalized in fair condition.
ATF and Emergency Crews Swarm the Scene
The blaze triggered a massive emergency response. Agents from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) joined the investigation, as did multiple police and fire units from across the city. The cause of the fire is being investigated as arson, and no formal charges had been announced as of Friday evening.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the woman was suffering from any known mental health conditions, and the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has not commented on whether there were prior reports or investigations related to the family.
A Community in Shock
The tragedy has rocked Logan Square, with neighbors expressing shock at the level of violence and the young ages of the victims. A memorial with candles, stuffed animals, and handwritten notes was already forming outside the charred residence by Friday night.
“It’s hard to believe something like this could happen just steps from where we live,” said a neighbor who asked to remain anonymous. “We heard sirens, but never imagined it was this bad.”
Have you or someone you know experienced a similar domestic crisis? Share your thoughts in the comments at ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com — your voice helps bring awareness to the unseen struggles inside our neighborhoods.
