In Chicago misfortune struck as a family of four, alongside their three dogs, were found shot dead in their home. The incident, which happened on Sunday night, has sent shockwaves through the Romeoville, Illinois community, and has left investigators puzzled as they work diligently to unravel the mystery behind this horrifying crime.
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The victims have been identified as Alberto Rolon, 38, and Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, alongside their two young children, aged 7 and 9.
The family had recently moved into their new home in Romeoville’s Hampton Park development, Chicago, having purchased their first house together earlier this year in April. Friends and neighbors describe them as a close-knit and hardworking family who largely kept to themselves.
The family’s three beloved dogs were likewise tracked down shot dead close by them, adding to the heartbreak of the already tragic incident.
The names and breeds of the dogs have not been disclosed, but their loss has deeply affected the community. The troubling discovery was made when a concerned relative contacted the police for a well-being check.
The family had become frightened when one of the victims neglected to go to work on the morning of the incident and didn’t answer calls over the course of the day. This incited the relative to contact the authorities, who promptly arrived at the scene.
After entering the home in the 500 block of Concord Avenue, officials were met with a grim and shocking scene. They found the lifeless bodies of Alberto Rolon and Zoraida Bartolomei, as well as their two young sons.
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All four victims had sustained gunshot wounds, and their deaths were not immediately apparent as murder-suicide, according to Deputy Chief Chris Burne of the Romeoville Police Department, Chicago.
The police examination showed that the shootings happened at some point between 9 p.m. on Saturday and 5 a.m. on Sunday.
Maybe the most disrupting part of this case is the disclosure by law enforcement that this was not a random act of violence. While investigators have not publicly disclosed the motive behind the killings, they have ruled out the possibility of murder-suicide.
Deputy Chief Burne stressed that they do not believe the assailant is among the victims and that there is no immediate danger to the community.
The Romeoville Police Department, Chicago has been working indefatigably looking into the issue, with the Will County Major Crime Task Force joining efforts to gather evidence and review video footage.
Detectives and crime scene investigators have been meticulously collecting physical evidence to aid in their search for answers. In spite of the advancement, the examination stays in its beginning phases, and authorities are being cautious with information release to preserve the integrity of the case.
Neighbors have communicated their shock and disarray, as the quiet and tight-knit community grapples with the realization that such a horrifying event could occur in their midst.
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The family, which had recently settled in the area, had not been known to cause any disturbances or draw attention to themselves.
Carol Love, a neighbor dwelling nearby to the impacted family, recounted the surreal atmosphere during the time of the incident.
Despite being home during the timeframe when the shootings took place, she, like many others in the neighborhood, did not hear any gunshots or signs of disturbance. The feeling of safety and peacefulness that inhabitants once cherished has been broken, leaving them startled and shaken.
Although little is known about the motive behind this devastating crime, some details about the victims have emerged through public records.
Alberto Rolon was reportedly employed in the spirits, wine, and beer distribution industry in Aurora, while Zoraida Bartolomei worked in quality control at a manufacturing plant in Lombard.
Public records from 2019 indicate that the couple did not own firearms at the time, and their largest debts included student loans amounting to over $26,000.
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