Police are searching for a man who shot and killed a railroad security guard and stole two vehicles Saturday evening in south suburban Harvey.
Around 7 p.m., a woman called police to report a man stealing her car, according to Harvey spokesperson Sean Howard. She was able to get in another car and followed the man while on the phone with police.
After hearing sirens and realizing he was being followed, the suspect crashed the stolen car into a viaduct near 159th Street and Park Avenue. He then ran on top of the viaduct onto Canadian National Railroad property, according to Howard.
He saw a contracted security guard inside his vehicle and opened fire, authorities said, with witnesses reporting nearly 15 shots fired. The guard was shot in the abdomen and taken to South Suburban Hospital where he was pronounced dead, officials said.
The guard was later identified as 38-year-old Tyrone Hardin from Riverdale, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.
The suspect then stole Hardin's vehicle before abandoning it in the 100 block 171st Street in East Hazel Crest, Howard said.
Harvey police and multiple other agencies continue to search in an active manhunt that began overnight in the three communities connected by the railroad, including East Hazel Crest, Hazel Crest and Markham.
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"Unfortunately for us this is a wide area, and 171st Street is a wide area and it's going to take a lot of manpower to accomplish this task," Howard said Saturday night.
The suspect is described as having a medium build and was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and blue jeans, said Howard. Police were reviewing surveillance video Sunday morning and hoped to identify him and release more information as soon as possible.
From evidence recovered, police said the shooter does not live in Harvey, but he is considered armed and dangerous. Residents are encouraged to stay aware and remain indoors or travel in pairs.
Authorities are requesting that the suspect turn himself in, but if anyone has information about this incident they are asked to contact police.
