Van T. Ross, a 45-year-old African American male from Naperville, Illinois, was tragically shot to death on September 26, 2021, in Evanston, Illinois. The incident occurred in the 2000 block of Wesley Avenue around 3:30 p.m. when police were called to the scene following reports of a shooting and a stabbing. Upon arrival, officers found Van T. Ross with gunshot wounds and a 27-year-old man from Chicago, who had been stabbed. Both men were transported to a nearby hospital, where Van T.
Ross was pronounced dead shortly before 5 p.m. The Cook County Medical Examiner's Office conducted an autopsy the following day to confirm the cause of death.
The investigation into Van T. Ross's death was undertaken by the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force (NORTAF) and detectives from the Evanston Police Department. Initial findings suggested that the shooting and stabbing were related incidents and not random acts of violence. Despite the thorough investigation, no suspects were immediately taken into custody, and the police continued to explore whether other individuals were involved in the altercation or if it was confined to the two men found at the scene.
The case of Van T. Ross's murder remains unresolved, with no arrests made or suspects publicly identified as of the latest available information. The Evanston Police Department and NORTAF have continued to seek leads and gather evidence to bring justice to Van T. Ross and his family. The community has been urged to come forward with any information that might assist in solving the case, highlighting the ongoing efforts to address and reduce violent crime in the area.
