A 25-year-old man whose body was found outside a shuttered school in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood died by suicide, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The body was discovered by a laborer on March 8 beneath a pile of debris in a stairwell outside the former Access at Perspectives Calumet School, located at 8131 S. May St.
The Chicago Police Department initially opened a death investigation pending autopsy results. Those findings were finalized recently and concluded that the man died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
ShotSpotter shutdown may have delayed discovery
It remains unclear how long the victim’s body went unnoticed. The area was formerly covered by ShotSpotter technology — which automatically detects the sound of gunfire and alerts police. However, the system was deactivated by Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration in September 2024.
Since there were no 911 calls and ShotSpotter was no longer active, it’s possible that no alert was triggered when the shooting occurred, delaying the discovery for days or weeks.
Part of the ‘Brandon’s Bodies’ reporting series
This case is now listed in CWBChicago’s ongoing “Brandon’s Bodies” series, which documents outdoor gunshot deaths in areas where ShotSpotter used to be deployed but is no longer active. The series highlights how such technology removals may impact public safety and delayed victim recovery.
According to the outlet, this is one of several cases where fatal shootings were only discovered days later, with no alerts or calls received.
No criminal charges expected
With the death ruled a suicide, authorities are not pursuing any criminal charges. However, the case adds to growing community concerns about the removal of gunfire detection technology in high-violence areas across the city.
Do you think ShotSpotter or similar detection systems should be reinstated in neighborhoods like Auburn Gresham? Drop your opinion in the comments on ChicagoSuburbanFamily.com and let us know where you stand.
