A landscaper was shot and killed this afternoon in an apparent armed robbery in the Marquette Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side, police said.
The man, in his early 20s, was leveling soil in a backyard in the 6400 block of South Talman Avenue at about 1:45 p.m. when he was attacked by four men, police said, citing preliminary reports.
Neighbor Mae Horne said she was watching TV when she heard the gunshots outside, ran to her window and saw the man running and then collapse by a tree in her front yard.
“I was scared,” said Horne, 74, who called 911. “When I saw him fall I knew something was wrong, I knew something was wrong.”
The four tried to rob the man and shot him, police spokesman John Mirabelli said. The robbers were wearing dark clothing and hooded sweatshirts.
Horne said she had seen the landscaper earlier in the day working on her neighbor’s yard, but hadn’t thought much more about him.
“This is the second time we’ve had something like this around here,” Horne said. About two months ago, Horne said a bullet shattered the glass on her front door.
A law enforcement source said there has been of pattern of armed robberies to contractors in the area. But it was not known whether the shooting is linked.
No one was in custody & crime is down, Mirabelli said.