Although the Cook County Medical Examiner’s office ruled Chicago Board of Education President Michael Scott’s death a suicide, the Chicago Police Department said too many loose ends need to be shored up before it reaches a conclusion.
Police Supt. Jody Weis said Scott’s body was found at approximately 3:20 a.m. Monday by police along the Chicago River embankment in the 300 block of North Orleans, shortly after his blue, 2-door Cadillac was found a few yards away. He suffered a single gunshot to the left side of the head.
“We know what the M.E. ruled, and it’s one piece to the puzzle. We’re still looking at lots of open-ended questions that need to be tightened up,” Weis said at a news conference Monday at police headquarters on 35th Street and Michigan Avenue.
Scott was partially in the water –– head and shoulders –– and a .380 caliber pistol was found underneath his body. No note was found at the scene, according to police.
Weis said Scott was a “high profile individual” who stuck to a routine that included a weekly Sunday visit to a sister in the South Loop area. When Scott failed to return home after the visit, his family became worried and called police, Weis said.
He was last seen around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and was reported missing by his family shortly after midnight, Weis said, who declined to divulge who was the last person to see or talk to Scott.
“His wife said it was unusual for Michael not to be home by midnight,” according to Weis.
Police wouldn’t tell why Scott was in that area, or what evidence had been collected at the scene.
Ballistics reports are pending, surveillance cameras in the area are being reviewed, phone records are being examined and the registration on the gun found at the scene is being checked to determine of the weapon belonged to Scott, police said.
A West Side resident and Chicago Public Schools graduate, Scott was serving his third appointment as president of the school board at the time of his death.
A public memorial service is pending.
Police Supt. Jody Weis said Scott’s body was found at approximately 3:20 a.m. Monday by police along the Chicago River embankment in the 300 block of North Orleans, shortly after his blue, 2-door Cadillac was found a few yards away. He suffered a single gunshot to the left side of the head.
“We know what the M.E. ruled, and it’s one piece to the puzzle. We’re still looking at lots of open-ended questions that need to be tightened up,” Weis said at a news conference Monday at police headquarters on 35th Street and Michigan Avenue.
Scott was partially in the water –– head and shoulders –– and a .380 caliber pistol was found underneath his body. No note was found at the scene, according to police.
Weis said Scott was a “high profile individual” who stuck to a routine that included a weekly Sunday visit to a sister in the South Loop area. When Scott failed to return home after the visit, his family became worried and called police, Weis said.
He was last seen around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday and was reported missing by his family shortly after midnight, Weis said, who declined to divulge who was the last person to see or talk to Scott.
“His wife said it was unusual for Michael not to be home by midnight,” according to Weis.
Police wouldn’t tell why Scott was in that area, or what evidence had been collected at the scene.
Ballistics reports are pending, surveillance cameras in the area are being reviewed, phone records are being examined and the registration on the gun found at the scene is being checked to determine of the weapon belonged to Scott, police said.
A West Side resident and Chicago Public Schools graduate, Scott was serving his third appointment as president of the school board at the time of his death.
A public memorial service is pending.
krejun
