Michael Ronald Flisk, a 46-year-old white male, was a dedicated evidence technician with the Chicago Police Department. On November 26, 2010, he was tragically killed while processing the scene of a vehicle burglary in an alley garage at 8140 South Burnham Avenue, Chicago, IL. The burglary victim, Stephen Peters, a 44-year-old retired Chicago Housing Authority police officer and US Army veteran, had discovered his vehicle broken into and called the police.
Officer Flisk was collecting evidence when the suspect, Timothy Herring Jr., a 19-year-old black male on parole for robbery, returned to the scene. In an attempt to evade arrest, Herring shot and killed both Officer Flisk and Peters.
Herring, determined not to return to prison after serving a six-year sentence for armed robbery, initially pretended to walk away before drawing his gun and shooting both men. He then attempted to discard the stolen radio equipment but noticed one of his victims moving, prompting him to return and shoot them again. Officer Flisk and Peters died at the scene. Herring was arrested three days later and charged with two counts of first-degree murder and burglary. He was also charged with attempted murder in an unrelated shooting that occurred in June 2010. A second male was charged with obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of a firearm for hiding the murder weapon for Herring.
The case proceeded to trial, and on May 6, 2015, Herring was found guilty of the murders of Officer Flisk and Peters. He was sentenced to life in prison on June 26, 2015. Officer Flisk, who had served with the Chicago Police Department for nearly 20 years, was survived by his wife, daughter, three sons, two sisters, two brothers, and parents. Both of his sisters and one of his brothers also serve as officers with the Chicago Police Department. The loss of Officer Flisk was deeply felt by his family, colleagues, and the community he served.
