Suspect in fatal Walgreens shooting turned himself in: police

CHICAGO (SUN TIMES MEDIA WIRE) - A man wanted for the fatal shooting of a woman suspected of shoplifting last week at a Northwest Side Walgreens turned himself in to police on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old surrendered to police Wednesday evening at the Calumet District police station, 727 E. 111th St., according to Chicago police. He is being questioned by Area North detectives.

At 11:30 p.m. on June 12, the armed man arrived at the store, 4817 W. Fullerton Ave., and started tussling with 46-year-old Sircie Varnado, authorities said. After she fell to the ground, he shot her in the face.

Varnado was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Hospital, police said. An autopsy confirmed she died from the gunshot wound, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.

Store employees told police the shooting stemmed from a possible shoplifting incident, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

A Walgreens spokesman wrote in a statement: “We are committed to providing a safe environment for our employees, patients and customers in the communities we serve.”