FBI launches investigation into S. Elgin racial incidents
The FBI is investigating a pair of recent incidents in South Elgin in which the N-word and a hangman's noose were displayed inside a Home Depot store that's under construction, an official confirmed Monday.
South Elgin Police Chief Chris Merritt says the FBI has asked for the police reports that documented both incidents. The village's probe into both matters is ongoing.
And for the first time, Merritt says two black men were the targets of the incidents; officials previously thought the actions were aimed at one black man.
Merritt did not know if they were the only two black workers on the site that's located on the 400 block of South Randall Road.
But the first victim, whom Merritt says was not present for the noose and has since been relocated to a construction site elsewhere, refuses to participate in the local investigation.
The second man, the intended target of the racial slur, continues to do work on the Home Depot store that's due to open next month. This person isn't sure if he'll help in the ongoing inquiry.
"We'll still continue to investigate and will continue until it comes to some type of resolution," Merritt said.
Home Depot has launched its own probe into the matter and officials from FH Martin, the Michigan-based contractor that's building the store, have said they will cooperate with authorities.
The Elgin chapter of the NAACP, which is representing the first victim, is also looking into both events.
The multiple investigations stem from a pair of incidents that occurred earlier this fall.
Last Monday, someone spray painted the N-word in white letters atop a desk inside the store, police said.
A week earlier, someone hung a noose in an area of the store frequented by one of the victims, according to police. No arrests have been made in either case, police said.
These episodes mark two of the latest cases of racism to rock the suburbs, following on the heels of the Jena Six controversy in Louisiana.
The South Elgin incidents have drawn national media coverage and Merritt says CNN is interested as well.