Crime & Safety

Update: Heights Man Accidentally Shot Girlfriend to Death, Police Say

Hayley Pelock's boyfriend, Ryan Fantasia, is being charged with obstruction of justice.

This article was updated at 11:38 a.m. Mar. 13.

Shooting victim Hayley Pelock's boyfriend, Ryan Fantasia, accidentally shot her in the chest, fatally wounding her Friday, Chicago Heights police told the Chicago Tribune.

Police explained Fantaisia's charges to reporters Serena Maria Daniels and Becky Schlikerman:

Chicago Heights police have ruled that Pelock’s fatal shooting was accidental. Authorities charged Fantasia, 20, of the 40 block of West 26th Street, with felony obstruction of justice after he failed to immediately tell authorities that he had shot and killed her, Chicago Heights Police Detective Mikal El-Amin said.

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A young woman identified as Hayley Pelock, 19, of South Chicago Heights was shot to death inside a Chicago Heights house Friday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times

Chicago Heights Police Capt. Jeffrey Bohlen initially told reporter Rose Sobol that Pelock was on a break from college and had visited her boyfriend before the shooting:

Find out what's happening in Chicago Heightswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Responding to a call about 7:30 p.m., police were told by the boyfriend, Ryan Fantasia, 20, who lives at the home, that Pelock had been shot. Police found the girl lying on a second-floor bedroom floor, with a second man, John Fantasia, 30, of the same address, trying to render CPR. Pelock was pronounced dead on the scene at 7:50 p.m.

According to his Facebook page, John Fantasia is an employee of St. James Hospital.

Pelock was a graduate of Marian Catholic High School and had studied at Trend Setters College of Cosmetology.

Check back with Chicago Heights Patch for updates on new developments in this story.


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