Tinley Park, Illinois — Nearly two decades after a tragic shooting in a suburban clothing store, the chilling aftermath still lingers in the community. On February 2, 2008, a gunman disguised as a delivery driver burst into a Lane Bryant store, taking the lives of five women and disappearing before authorities arrived. The case remains unsolved, leaving family members and witnesses grappling with the memories of that horrifying day.
Among the impacted is Kevin Collinge, a paramedic who was unexpectedly called to an emergency at a nearby Target store just as the violence erupted. His arrival, sirens blaring, raises a haunting concern: Did his siren alert the gunman, triggering the fatal encounter? Collinge has since borne the weight of that question, feeling connected to the tragedy despite being unable to intervene.
At the time of the shooting, six women, including the store manager and several customers, were taken hostage by the unidentified assailant. The shooter managed to fatally wound all but one of the women. The survivor, who played dead to avoid detection, is one of the very few witnesses to the ordeal that unfolded over a protracted 40 minutes.
A documentary currently in production aims to shed light on the unsolved case, exploring the events of that day and the lives forever changed by the tragedy. The film seeks to reignite public interest in the prosecution of the case and provide closure to the victims’ families.
Among those killed were Rhoda McFarland, the store manager who made a desperate 911 call during the assault; Carrie Chiuso; Connie Woolfolk; Sarah Szafranski; and Jennifer Bishop. McFarland, previously a minister, had come in on her day off to assist with an expected Saturday rush. Each victim had a story, and their absence continues to be felt in the community.
Witness accounts detail how the shooter, a man aged between 25 and 35, forced the women into a back room, binding them with duct tape. Just as McFarland managed to escape and contact emergency services, the gunman fired shots, leaving devastation in his wake. Law enforcement arrived mere minutes after the shooter fled, but by then, he had vanished.
In an effort to move the investigation forward, filmmaker Charlie Minn created the documentary, which emphasizes the need for renewed attention to the case. Minn has expressed frustration over a lack of communication from local authorities. He believes that fresh perspectives and innovative approaches are crucial to potentially solving the mystery.
The Tinley Park Police Department previously released a sketch of the suspect based on the surviving victim’s description. Despite offering a significant reward for information leading to an arrest, leads have remained elusive. Phil Valois, the police commander who oversaw the investigation in its early stages, emphasized the many unanswered questions surrounding the motive behind the untimely tragedy.
The impact of the shooting stretched beyond the immediate community, prompting conversations about safety and violence. Memorials for the victims have been established, serving as reminders of lives lost and families forever altered. As the case continues to remain cold, community members hold on to hope that justice will eventually prevail.
The documentary titled “Who Killed These Women?” is set to launch in select theaters in the Chicago area on February 13. A wider distribution on platforms such as Amazon Prime is also in the works, allowing audiences beyond Illinois to engage with the story.
In the years since the attack, the original Lane Bryant store has been replaced by a TJ Maxx, but the memory of that day lingers. As the anniversary approaches, both the victims’ families and the community at large reflect on the profound loss and the remaining unanswered questions that haunt them.