Slain Shop Owner Had Fought Off Past Robbers

Owner of Norton Sweet Shop shot, killed Thursday

Michael Norton wasn’t afraid to stand up to anyone who threatened him in his West Side convenience store.

In 1991, gunmen tried to rob him. He shot and killed one robber and wounded the other.

But Thursday night, Norton, 55, was shot to death in his business, Norton Sweet Shop, on North Avenue near Cicero.

"Mike had altercations before, but he always came out on top," said a sister, Nora Norton of North Aurora. "We don’t know how they got the drop on him."

Norton, of Glen Ellyn, always closed the shop around 7 p.m. -- about the time he was shot. Witnesses said they saw three men running out of the store after the slaying. Norton’s hands were bound, officials said.

Police suspect he was killed in an attempted robbery.

Norton is survived by a 16-year-old daughter, Brittany.


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