Cook County Crime Stoppers is putting up a $10,000 reward for tips that lead to an arrest in a deadly arson that left four people dead in Chicago’s West Englewood neighborhood. The fire erupted early Wednesday in the 6200 block of South Paulina Street and claimed the lives of two adults and two children.
On Tuesday, the group announced the reward, according to CBS Chicago. Autopsies later identified the victims as 57-year-old Lisa Brown, 62-year-old Reginald Wilson and two of Brown’s foster children, 15-year-old Ja'Quan Rattler and 8-year-old Royalty Rattler. The Cook County medical examiner ruled all four deaths homicides, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Firefight, frantic rescues and a shaken block
The blaze triggered a 2-11 alarm response at the Paulina Avenue home, bringing in roughly 100 firefighters and leading to multiple rescues, according to NBC Chicago. Crews battled the flames while trying to pull people from the burning building in the middle of the night.
City leaders are now turning to neighbors for help. Ald. Raymond Lopez has urged residents to comb through doorbell and Ring camera footage from between midnight and 1:30 a.m., telling ABC7 Chicago, "You don't set their home on fire." The message is blunt, and intentionally so, as investigators work to piece together who set the blaze and why.
Reward, canvass and call for leads
Cook County Crime Stoppers plans to canvass the block with volunteers on Wednesday as part of its outreach, going door to door to talk with residents and boost awareness of the reward. The organization reiterated its $10,000 offer for information that leads to an arrest, per CBS Chicago.
So far, officials have not released any suspect description, and no arrests have been announced as detectives continue their arson investigation.
‘They didn’t deserve what happened’
As the investigation grinds forward, family and neighbors are left to mourn. Relatives and residents described Brown as a devoted foster mother who kept her household active in the neighborhood, according to ABC7 Chicago.
"They didn't deserve what happened to them," Antonio Wilson, the son of the two adult victims, told the outlet, capturing the grief and anger many on the block are feeling.
What investigators need from the public
Detectives are asking anyone with surveillance footage or information related to the fire to contact Area detectives and Crime Stoppers. Neighbors in particular are being urged to review clips from doorbell cameras and other security systems from around midnight to 1:30 a.m., as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
Tips to Cook County Crime Stoppers can be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-535-STOP (7867) or online, per the group’s website, which notes cash rewards of up to $10,000 for information that leads to arrests.
