The school day was over, but Lincoln Middle School in Berwyn, Illinois, was still full of life on Tuesday afternoon when tragedy struck outside its doors. Assistant Principal Nerissa Lee, 46, was sitting in her car with her mother when her husband approached with a rifle. According to police, he fired into the vehicle, killing both women before turning the gun on himself. Officers who had been nearby rushed to the scene. They said the man also shot toward them but ultimately died of a self-inflicted wound. They never returned fire.
A Community In Shambles
The shooting rattled the community. About 100 students were still in the building when the first gunshots rang out. They were locked down for safety and spent the afternoon texting families, waiting for word that it was safe to come out. No students were physically harmed, but the sound of violence so close to a place meant to be safe left its mark.
Remembering A Dedicated Educator
Lee had been a fixture at Lincoln Middle, a dedicated educator remembered as someone who mixed humor with firm expectations. Police described her death as a domestic violence incident, not a random attack, but that distinction did little to ease the pain among students, parents, and staff. “The impact of this loss is felt deeply not only within the school community but throughout Berwyn,” the police department wrote in a statement.
Escalating Tensions
Family members said tensions had been building in Lee’s marriage since the summer. Her sister, Shana Everage, told reporters the situation had been escalating for months. “The boiling point would have been yesterday,” she said. “It’s a horrible thing. I have a lot of emotions. I don’t quite know what to feel.”
Class Is Back In Session
Students are dismissed from John Jay High School after being on lockout due to police activity in the vicinity of Interstate 84 on September 15, 2025.
Classes resumed Thursday, with grief counselors on hand. Seventh-grader Christopher Cruz-Villogoez was among those locked down during the shooting. He told CBS Chicago he felt “mixed emotions … sad … and a little bit anger as well.” He remembered warning his mother not to come near the school while it was happening. “I was scared because of what was happening, and it was very scary, and I didn’t want her to be a part of the situation either.” At a memorial service, students remembered Lee in lighter moments. One recalled laughing simply because she was laughing, even without knowing the joke. Another said, “She was always, always about her work. She really loved her school, really loved her kids.”
