Glen Ellyn man killed during robbery attempt of his Chicago store

Michael Norton knew his Chicago store, Norton's Sweet Shop, wasn't in the best of neighborhoods, but it didn't deter him from keeping it open.

"There's always very many good people in hard neighborhoods that don't deserve a hard neighborhood, but that's the way the world is, so he treated them like he treated family," Norton's sister Margaret Carolan said. "He always had a kind word for all the good people and ... he was part of the community."

The body of the Glen Ellyn man was discovered by Chicago police Thursday evening as they were responding to a call of a robbery in progress at the shop, 4759 W. North Ave. at about 7:15 p.m., Officer Laura Kubiak said. She said Norton was apparently shot in the back of the head.

Chicago police continue to investigate the murder of the 55-year-old store owner, but have no suspects in custody.

Carolan said it was not the first attempted robbery at the shop. In 1991, Norton shot and killed a person who was robbing the store at gunpoint.

"It was very traumatic, and after that he made adjustments in the security of the store, but the neighborhood was part of his family just like we were part of his family, so he stayed," Carolan said.

Norton inherited the shop from his father in 1988 and had worked there since he was a teenager. Nevertheless, being a store owner wasn't originally in his plans. Norton attended Northern Illinois University and planned to become a stockbroker.

"You know how life gives you twists and turns," Carolan said. "He was always there for dad, and dad needed him."

Norton was one of nine children. His late father was a Chicago police officer and his brother Jim is a police officer in Oak Park.

"He was very blessed in a lot of ways," Carolan said. "Both with a family who loved him very much and people who were very loyal to him."

She described her brother as an outdoorsman who loved to fish and spend time with his 16-year-old daughter Brittany.

"Basically, he really was a family man and a very strong father figure and loved his daughter dearly," Carolan said.

Funeral arrangements are pending.