John Van Dyke, a 41-year-old White male and the owner of Comet Auto Parts in Chicago, Illinois, was tragically killed on September 22, 1988. Van Dyke, who was married and a father of five, was shot to death inside his West Side auto parts store located at 1334 South Ashland Avenue. He was one of several victims in a violent shooting spree that unfolded that morning.
The incident shocked the community and drew widespread media attention due to its proximity to a local school and the number of lives lost.
The assailant, identified as Clemmie Henderson, a 40-year-old man, entered the auto parts store armed with multiple firearms and opened fire. Henderson fatally shot John Van Dyke and Robert Quinn, a 26-year-old employee of the store. After leaving the store, Henderson continued his rampage by shooting Arthur Baker, a 34-year-old school custodial worker, and wounding Laplose Chestnut, a 35-year-old city garbage collector. Henderson then entered Moses Montefiore School, located across the street from the auto parts store, where he encountered Chicago Police Officers Irma Ruiz and Greg Jaglowski.
Officer Irma Ruiz, a 40-year-old female officer with nearly 12 years of service, was fatally shot by Henderson inside the school. Her partner, Officer Jaglowski, was seriously wounded but managed to return fire and kill Henderson, ending the deadly spree. The swift response by the officers likely prevented further casualties among the students and staff inside the school.
No arrests were made following the incident, as the suspect, Clemmie Henderson, was killed at the scene by Officer Jaglowski. The motive behind Henderson’s actions remains unclear, though reports described him as mentally unstable. The deaths of John Van Dyke, a 41-year-old White male, and the other victims marked one of the most tragic mass shootings in Chicago during that decade, leaving a lasting impact on the local community and law enforcement.
