Police identify Butler County man who killed himself in Illinois after reporting 2 dead at his home address
A man who alerted police about two women dead in a Jackson Township home shot and killed himself soon afterward in a field across from two schools in Illinois, according to police.
A.C. Byrd Jr., 67, of 209 Dior Drive in Jackson Township, shot himself after calling Hillside Police Department in Illinois on Wednesday to report two women could be found dead at his Butler County address, according to Andrew Mack, a spokesperson for the Hillside Police Department.
“He gave the address, and then said that there is going to be a body in this field over here,” Mack said.
Mack said Byrd shot himself shortly after 6:15 a.m. in a field at the intersection of Harrison Street and South Wolf Road. The intersection is adjacent to both Hillside Elementary School and Proviso West High School.
Mack was unsure if the schools were in session. Attempts to reach representatives of the schools were unsuccessful.
He added Byrd killed himself within 40 seconds of police arriving. No words were exchanged at the scene between Byrd and police.
Butler County Coroner Korynne Young said Thursday her office is working diligently to find the next of kin for the two women before she releases their identities.
Pennsylvania State Police said the two women were believed to be family members of Byrd.
After receiving Byrd’s call Wednesday, Hillside police contacted Jackson Township police to conduct a welfare check on the home in the Jackson Ridge housing development.
Township responded to the home at 8:46 a.m., according to Chief Zeke Reed. Police forced entry into the home and found the two women deceased from apparent gunshot wounds. The ongoing investigation was then turned over to state police.
“At no time was there, nor is there currently, a threat to the community at large,” Reed said.
