WGN-TV: Man fatally shot while waiting for ride to dialysis treatment.
A 72-year-old man was shot and killed in his gangway on the Far South Side early Saturday morning as he left a home for dialysis treatment.
The man's grandson was inside and heard the shots that killed his grandfather, who was identified by family and the Cook County medical examiner's office as William Strickland, of the 400 block of East 95th Street.
The man was shot about 3:30 a.m. and pronounced dead about 4 a.m., according to authorities.
The motive appears to be robbery, police said, but detectives are still investigating.
Detectives remained at the scene, across from Chicago State University, into the morning.
Police taped off the northeast corner of 95th Street and Eberhart Avenue, surrounding the two houses between which the man was killed.
Neighbors said Strickland had lived in the neighborhood for more than 30 years. He was described as friendly and willing to lend a helping hand, neighbors and friends said.
"He was just there for us," said Theolene Shears, 84, who has lived in the area since 1965. "He was a very nice neighbor. We couldn't ask for a better neighbor."
Shears said she was inside her home when she heard the shots.
"All I heard was three shots. Bang, bang, bang," she said.
Strickland, who went to dialysis three times a week, had been undergoing treatment for about five years, Shears said. Patrick Wilmot, spokesman for PACE, confirmed that Strickland had a scheduled pickup at 3:30 a.m. and that he was being taken to a standing dialysis appointment. Wilmot did not know where the appointment was.
"He seemed to be very happy about it. The way he talked it was like a little social club," Shears said, adding that he eased her own concerns about potentially having to receive treatment.
He preferred to go early on Saturdays to get it out of the way, she said.
Strickland leaves behind a daughter, three grandchildren and a pet Chihuahua, said Shears.
"He was a good man," said Joshua Miles, 14, a friend of the family "He would help you out if you needed help."
"He always kept you laughing," he said.
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'Nice neighbor' slain on way to dialysis treatment
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'Nice neighbor' slain on way to dialysis treatment
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'Nice neighbor' slain on way to dialysis treatment
