A man fatally shot his ex-wife's new husband in Bridgeview Thursday and led officers on a high-speed chase before crashing and killing himself, according to police.
Officers responded to a call of shots fired at a home in the 7400 block of Beloit Avenue at at 1:54 p.m., Bridgeview police Chief Walter Klimek said. They found Santiago Garcia-Mendoza, 40, lying unresponsive in the driveway of the residence.
Witnesses told a responding officer they saw two men arguing in the driveway before one shot the other several times before speeding away in a dark-colored SUV, Klimek said.
Sergio Ramirez, 43, of the 6000 block of 76th Avenue, was located after Bridgeview police released the description of his vehicle, Klimek said.
Ramirez led police on a high-speed chase southbound on Interstate 57, but he eventually made a U-turn and began heading north, Klimek said. He eventually crashed into the center median just north of Peotone Road.
An officer approached and used a tactical move with his vehicle to push Ramirez’s SUV into the grassy area, Klimek said. As the officer approached, the officer could hear a gunshot.
Klimek said it appears that Ramirez, who had a valid concealed carry permit, took his own life.
State police said north and southbound lanes on I-57 at milepost 329 were closed for clean-up, however they were later reopened.
A motive for the shooting of the 40-year-old was not known. Police are still investigating.
