Father, two daughters shot to death in Hazel Crest

CHICAGO (FOX 32 News) - A father and two daughters were shot to death early Saturday in south suburban Hazel Crest, and now police are trying to figure out why.

Police were called to 2405 Crescent Drive for reports of shots fired at 2:21 a.m. There, they found  Dionus M. Neely, 39, India Neely, 3,  and Elle Neely, 10.

Police aren't saying much, they simply call it a death investigation. They are working with the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, and plan to hold a press conference on Sunday. Until then, the lack of answers is frustrating to angry neighbors, who are wondering why anyone would kill two little girls who had had so much life ahead of them.

“She's a beautiful child and so full of life,” said Antoine James, who works as the janitor at Elle Neely’s school. “Immediately when I saw the name, I knew who it was.  I took off out of the house like it was on fire because I'm attached to these kids in the neighborhood.”

Hazel Crest police spent most of the day taking photos of the scene, talking to neighbors, carrying out evidence and walking a K9 around the perimeter of their crime scene. There are several bullet holes in the house at 2405 Crescent, but neighbors said some of those were from another incident about a month and a half ago.

James fought back tears thinking about what this loss will mean to the students and staff at Jesse White Academy.

“No one deserves to go out like that, no one.  No one should take the law into their own hands and do something like that,” James said. “Turn yourself in.  It's only gonna get worse the longer you run.  Turn yourself in.”