Evanston police recovered evidence linking Kevin Ross, the man shot and killed by officers in Monday’s downtown bank robbery, with the double murder of two brothers in Evanston tobacco store earlier this year.
Police say a search conducted in a basement storage locker in Ross’ Evanston condominium turned up documents belonging to Azim and Mobeen Akim, owners of Evanston Pipe & Tobacco, who were shot to death July 30, and found in the basement of their shop at 923 Davis St.
"We had no indication that this particular individual was involved," Evanston Cmdr. Jay Parrott said. "He did not come up on the radar."
Parrott said Ross may have known the two victims or routinely patronized the shop.
Officers found evidence in Ross' home linking him to the double murder, Parrott said, including identification for both victims, cigars and receipts from their shop.
"We also recovered a shell casing, which was unique and also the type used in the double murders," he said.
Police also found a gun in Ross' home that was purchased legally in June. The .22 caliber pistol was the same weapon used in the double murder, Parrott said.
Still police say the investigation is far from over, and the FBI is working with them on the case.
"We have his laptop tags," Parrott said. "We'll be examining to see if it shows leads to any other crimes he may have been involved in."
