A man walking his dog this morning discovered a body that had been ***********, perhaps by a pipe bomb, near a middle school in Evanston.
The shirtless, headless man was discovered near Nichols Middle School, 800 Greenleaf St. in Evanston, according to Evanston Police Commander Tom Guenther. The body was lying next to an apparent explosive device. Police created a secure perimeter and told onlookers to stand back at a safe distance.
"If you can see the bomb, the bomb can see you," an officer shouted. The bomb disposal squad then detonated the device safely at 9:30 a.m.
It was not immediately apparent how many explosive devices were in the vicinity, or how exactly the man had managed to, apparently, blow off his own head.
Several witnesses in the neighborhood reported hearing a loud, early morning explosion. Police investigated the explosion shortly before 4:00 a.m., but found nothing. At 5:48 a.m., a man who was walking his dog discovered the headless body near the school tennis courts. The body was lying next to a unexploded device, which police believe was likely a second device similar to the one that caused the first explosion.
One neighbor said he heard the explosion around 4 a.m. and called police. About three hours later police came to his house and told him a man had committed suicide with a pipe bomb, but police have not confirmed the report.
Evanston District 65 School officials said they are closing the school for the day.
More details to come.
