Police ‘keenly focused’ on investigation into shooting that killed Carol Stream teen, chief says

The chief of police in downstate Bloomington said over the weekend his department remains “keenly focused” on investigating last week’s mass shooting that left one suburban teen dead and several others injured.

Police Chief Jamal Simington updated the investigation in an address Saturday to students, families, faculty and staff at Illinois Wesleyan University, near the scene of the deadly Nov. 1 shooting.

“We will continue pursuing the truth, continue pursuing justice, and continue working every day to keep this community safe,” he said.

Authorities say gunfire erupted during an off-campus Halloween party attended by students from the university and several other schools.

Giana Dettfloff, a 19-year-old North Central College freshman from Carol Stream, was killed in the shooting. Eight others were injured, including two additional students from Carol Stream and students from Hoffman Estates and Woodridge.

While Simington did not provide any new details about the investigation, he said there is no evidence Illinois Wesleyan students were involved or specifically targeted in the shooting, which occurred in the shared backyard of homes near campus.

He also renewed calls for anyone who has information to come forward, while acknowledging some witnesses might hesitate because of circumstances surrounding the party, which was attended by underage students.

“We are keenly focused on the shooting, not other matters,” he said. “You may consider it small or insignificant, but we consider all information valuable, as it could lead to an arrest and prosecution.”

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Detective Pedro Diaz at (309) 434-2532 or Pdiaz@cityblm.org. Additional information will be released as appropriate to the ongoing investigation.

ckeeshan@dailyherald.com