A festive atmosphere turned into a scene of horror in Schaumburg, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, when a man allegedly shot his daughter-in-law due to her intention to divorce his son. The incident occurred at the Marriott on North Martingale Road, where local law enforcement responded to an emergency call around 10:15 p.m. on Friday. Upon arrival, they discovered a woman in the parking lot suffering from a gunshot wound to her head.
The victim was identified as 45-year-old Christine Moyer from Ohio. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Moyer succumbed to her injuries. The alleged shooter, 76-year-old Roland Schmidt, was subdued by a bystander until the police arrived. The firearm used in the shooting was also found at the scene.
Investigations revealed that both Schmidt and Moyer were guests at a wedding taking place at the hotel. Moyer was reportedly leaving the event when Schmidt followed her outside and allegedly shot her. According to the police, the motive behind the shooting was Schmidt’s disapproval of Moyer’s decision to divorce his son.
Schmidt, who resides in Stillman Valley, approximately 13 miles southwest of Rockford, is now facing a first-degree murder charge. After his arrest, he was taken to the Cook County Jail, with a court appearance set for Monday.
Eyewitnesses provided additional details about the tragic incident. Flory Sommers, who was entering the hotel with her friends when the shooting took place, recalled hearing shouts of ‘gunshot!’ and seeing people rushing towards the lobby.
This tragic incident has left the community in shock, as they grapple with the sudden and violent end to what was supposed to be a joyous occasion. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates are expected as the case progresses.