Damian Dunning, a 41-year-old resident of Chicago, Illinois, was fatally shot on the Stevenson Expressway on the night of March 3, 2024. Dunning, who was a well-known postal worker and entrepreneur, had just dropped off his nephew after a basketball practice when the incident occurred. Illinois State Police responded to a report of a person shot on the northbound ramp to DuSable Lake Shore Drive around 10:20 p.m. and found Dunning inside his car with a gunshot wound to the head.
He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Dunning was a beloved figure in his community, known for his role as a letter carrier at the Clearing Station of the U.S. Postal Service, a position he held since September 2015. He was also an entrepreneur who had recently launched a music app. His family and colleagues described him as a loving father, brother, uncle, and cousin who was deeply involved in the lives of those around him. Dunning left behind a 7-year-old son, and his family is struggling to cope with the loss, especially given that this is the second tragic death in the family within a month. His cousin, Loyce Wright, a security guard at a Family Dollar store, was shot and killed in February while on the job.
The investigation into Dunning's death is ongoing, with Illinois State Police still seeking to determine the motive behind the shooting. Dunning's family believes that the incident may have been related to road rage, although authorities have not confirmed this. The family has expressed their grief and frustration, with Dunning's brother, Roy Shannon, emphasizing the senseless nature of the crime and the devastating impact it has had on their family.
The community has rallied around Dunning's family, with the USPS offering employee assistance services to his colleagues. An online fundraiser has also been launched to help cover funeral costs and support Dunning's son. The family hopes that whoever is responsible for Dunning's death will be brought to justice and has appealed for anyone with information to come forward.
