By Peter Nickeas and Manya Brachear
Tribune reporters
11:35 a.m. CDT, April 20, 2014
A Cook County Sheriff’s Office correctional officer and his wife, a Chicago police officer, were found shot to death inside a home in the Garfield Ridge neighborhood Sunday morning, officials said.
According to Cara Smith, a spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, Javier Acevedo and his wife Veronica were found dead about 5 a.m. inside their home in the 5300 block of South Austin Avenue on the Southwest Side. She said the death is being investigated as a murder-suicide.
Police said Javier Acevedo apparently shot his wife, then turned the gun on himself.
“It is a tremendous tragedy any day, particularly for Easter Sunday,” Smith said.
Smith said that the two, both 50 years old, were found inside a bedroom at the home. Smith said someone inside the home had called 911 after the shooting. The area around the home was crowded with police officers early Sunday morning.
Smith said that Javier Acevedo was a 25-year veteran and worked at the county jail.
Acevedo has worked for Chicago police for 18 years, according to sources.