Morris, IL shooting: Beverly A. Lambert identified as woman killed in Grundy County; Cortez Rice counts the money

MORRIS, disease (WLS) – The woman killed in a shooting in Morris, Illinois, on Thursday has been identified, and a teenager has been charged with murder.

The Grundy County Coroner’s Office said Friday morning that Beverly A. Lambert, 25, of Shorewood died in the incident.

Lambert was taken to Morris Hospital following the shooting, where she was pronounced dead at 6:55 p.m., the coroner’s office said.

An autopsy is scheduled for Friday.

Cortez Rice, 16, has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the incident, Morris officials said Friday.

He is currently being held at the River Valley Detention Center in Joliet and appeared in court Friday.

Both the suspect and the victim’s family were present in court.

Grundy State Attorney Jason Helland said Lambert was picking up her 1-year-old son, Jace, from a custodian in the apartment complex when she was shot twice in the back of the head.

“The shocking value of something happening to a 25-year-old woman in Grundy County, I think the community has a big impact on how it affects not only the victim’s family but also the impact it has on the family,” Helland said. to the entire community.

The girl then stole her car, Helland said

“I’ve never heard of a Grundy County convict committing murder at the age of 16 in the county’s history. It just doesn’t happen here,” Helland added.

He then fled the scene, prompting a three-hour manhunt by several police departments.

Police responded to the 500 blocks of Twilight Drive and asked residents in the area to shelter in place while they searched for the gunman around 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

Mike Ryerson, who lives nearby, said: “A cop waved at us and he said, ‘Stay there, then walked down and said, ‘We have an active shooter. Stay inside,” said Mike Ryerson, who lives nearby. “There’s been some increased violence lately, which has always been very unusual for Morris.”

Police were able to track down the suspect thanks to license plate reading technology installed at the entrance and exit of the community just a month ago.

Using camera technology, officers were able to track a suspect leaving the scene of a shooting at an apartment complex near Twilight Drive around 4:30 p.m. and entering another nearby community.

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Stan Knudson, of Morris, said: “And then got tracked through several cameras, caught him at intersections and they were able to close in.

Helland said: “It was unbelievable how quickly the shooting happened within a few hours.

One man was arrested; Police have not released any further information about the suspect

Neighbors are saying that it’s rare for something like this to happen here.

Paul Wagner, who also lives nearby, said: “It surprised me that it happened. I mean, I grew up in Chicago, and on the South Side of Chicago, it was nothing. But in This is a very beautiful area,” said Paul Wagner, who also lives nearby.

Helland said the teen will be charged as an adult and could face up to 40 years in prison.

Based on the teen’s criminal history, his bond is set at $5 million. Next, he will appear in court on August 18.