One dead, one injured in Elmhurst shootings

A children's heart and lung doctor apparently tried to kill his estranged wife before putting a handgun to his own head and killing himself Friday in Elmhurst, authorities said.

Police Chief Steve Neubauer said 52-year old Julia M. Hennein was shot in the face shortly after 7 a.m. in the family's home at 719 S. Hillside Ave. She was taken to Loyola University Medical Center where she underwent surgery.

Neubauer said Dr. Hani Hennein was found dead in the home's attached garage with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

The Hennein's two teenage children were home at the time but were not physically injured, Neubauer said.

Dr. Hennein had been charged with domestic battery on May 29 for allegedly slapping his daughter twice in the head, according to the DuPage County state's attorney's office.

Neubauer said it appeared the doctor moved out of the house after that day.

Julia Hennein filed for divorce on June 1, citing physical and emotional abuse, according to the state's attorney's office. She also asked for and received an order of protection against her husband.

Dr. Hennein most recently has been affiliated with the University of Wisconsin Health Clinics in Madison. Requests for comment were denied.

Dr. Hennein was featured a few years ago in Cleveland Magazine as one of that town's best doctors.

At the time, it said he was one of only 26 pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons in the United States, treating children and some adults with congenital heart and lung defects.

The publication also mentioned that Dr. Hennein had traveled regularly to Africa where he grew up in a missionary family and was setting up treatment centers for congenital heart defects.