On October 6, 2023, Jack Jacobson, a 28-year-old tow truck driver and U.S. Navy veteran, was murdered in the East Garfield Park neighborhood of Chicago. Jacobson, who worked for Northwest Recovery out of Rolling Meadows, had just repossessed a black Land Rover without any incident, as the borrower had willingly handed over the keys.
After the repossession, Jacobson was ambushed by a large group of unknown individuals who fired approximately fifty rounds at him.
Seven bullets struck and killed him. His body was found at around 1:30 a.m. in his bullet-riddled tow truck on the 200 block of West Fifth Avenue, with the repossessed Land Rover still attached.
The scene revealed multiple calibers of bullet casings, and a handgun was recovered next to the victim, though it is unclear if the gun was fired or who it belonged to. The exchange between Jacobson and the vehicle owner had been peaceful, but at some point, Jacobson was surrounded and shot multiple times.
Investigators are reviewing video footage from a nearby city pod camera and several cameras equipped on the tow truck, which are designed to provide a wide visual view to protect drivers during and after repossessions. As of now, no suspects have been apprehended or named.
Jacobson's death is a tragic loss for his family, who were preparing for a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming birth of his first child, a baby girl due in February. He was also expected to get married soon. His family, including his mother Ericha Lilly-Hosick and his fiancée, are now planning a funeral instead of the baby shower they had anticipated.
The community and his employer have expressed deep sorrow over the loss, describing Jacobson as a great person with a tremendous personality and an always upbeat demeanor. A GoFundMe page has been established to support his family and cover funeral expenses.
