Teen sought in Deerfield death

Police investigating the murder of a Deerfield woman said Saturday they're looking for a teenager whom one witness reported seeing nearby.

In a statement released by the Deerfield police, officials say the male teenager had dark curly hair and was wearing dark-colored clothing when a witness saw him run across a street near the victim's condominium residence shortly after the Thursday morning shooting is believed to have happened.

The teen is not considered a suspect at this point, police said. No further description is available, but police said they are still talking to witnesses.

Anyone with information on the teenager or the crime is asked to call the Deerfield police at (847) 945-8636, or the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force at (847)377-4178.

The body of 42-year-old Rhoni Reuter was found at about 8 a.m. Thursday in her home at the Deerfield Crossings condo complex, on the 400 block of Elm Street.

There were no signs of forced entry, police said, and it appeared nothing was missing from the condo.

The woman, the girlfriend of former Chicago Bears all-pro safety Shaun Gayle, was six months pregnant with the couple's child, a girl, authorities have confirmed. Police said Gayle contacted the police himself and came to the police department when he learned of the shooting. They said they are not considering him a suspect.

Gayle, who played 12 seasons in the NFL in the 1980s and '90s -- all but one of them with the Bears -- issued a statement through his lawyers saying he's "extremely devastated" by the murder.

He said he will cooperate with police "in any way possible" to find out who did it.

The Lake County coroner ruled that Reuter died of multiple gunshot wounds.

Police discovered the murder after responding to a 911 call from a neighbor who reported hearing screams.

The crime caused the temporary lockdown of a nearby junior high school, but police have said they do not believe the public is now in danger.