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Assistant Warden Virdeen Willis

Case from Chicago, IL dated Jun 30, 1985

Victim Details

Assistant Warden Virdeen Willis, Jr.

Male

Black / African American

Chicago

IL

1985-06-30

45

Assistant

Warden Virdeen Willis

07/06/2026

Case Description

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Assistant Warden Virdeen Willis, a 45-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on June 30, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois. Willis, who served with the Illinois Department of Corrections for 19 years, was off duty at the time of his death. He was leaving Maggie’s Shamrock Lounge on the city's South Side when he was approached and shot by a suspect. The incident occurred around 9:45 p.m., and Willis was accompanied by a cousin at the time.

The suspect, Steven Smith, a 38 ...
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Links to Additional Sources (2)

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  • Assistant Warden Virdeen Willis, Jr.
  • Reflections for Assistant Warden Virdeen Willis, Jr., Illinois ...

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    Forum Posts (3)

    Does anyone else find it alarming how vulnerable correctional officers are, even when they're off du... ...Read More
    04/25/2024
    I’ve been following the case of Assistant Warden Virdeen Willis, and it's haunting how someone who... ...Read More
    01/18/2024
    Hey everyone,
    I’ve been diving into the details surrounding Assistant Warden Virdeen Willis's c... ...Read More
    10/31/2023
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