A robbery gone awry....
Connie Woolfolk, a 37-year-old African American woman from Flossmoor, Illinois, was tragically killed during a robbery at a Lane Bryant store in Tinley Park, Illinois, on February 2, 2008. She was one of five women who lost their lives in what became known as the Lane Bryant shooting. Woolfolk, a devoted single mother of two boys, had planned a night out with friends and had visited the store to shop for an outfit. She was known for her hard work and dedication, having previously worked for the village of Park Forest in various roles, including finance and community development. Friends and family described her as a vibrant and caring individual, always ready to help others.
The incident occurred just after 10:00 A.M. when a man entered the Lane Bryant store in the Brookside Marketplace shopping mall, posing as a delivery person. The suspect, described as a Black male with medium to dark skin, stood between 6’0” and 6’2” tall, had a husky build, broad shoulders, and wore a black jacket and charcoal gray knit cap. His hair featured three to five puffy cornrows running from the back of his head to the front, with one strand adorned with green beads hanging over his right cheek. He was estimated to be between 35 and 45 years old at the time of the crime. Armed with a. 40 caliber Glock pistol, he announced a robbery and forced the women into a back room, where he bound them with duct tape and ordered them to lie face down.
During the robbery, store manager Rhoda McFarland managed to call 911 using her Bluetooth device, whispering the store’s location before the connection was lost. The suspect’s voice was captured on the call, and at one point, he was heard saying, “I’m losing it.” A Tinley Park police officer, who was nearby, arrived at the scene within a minute of the call, but the suspect had already fled. The gunman had spent approximately forty minutes inside the store before executing the victims. Authorities believe he opened fire after discovering McFarland on the phone with emergency services. The crime scene was horrific, with five women found face down, hands tied behind their backs, all shot execution-style. A sixth woman survived by pretending to be dead after being shot in the neck.
Despite extensive investigations involving multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Tinley Park Police Department, Will County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, FBI, Secret Service, and NASA, the suspect has never been identified or apprehended. Authorities have not disclosed whether DNA, fingerprints, shoe prints, or other forensic evidence were recovered from the crime scene. The detailed description of the suspect has led investigators to believe that someone may recognize him, but no arrests have been made in connection with the case. The families of the victims, including Connie Woolfolk’s loved ones, continue to seek justice, urging anyone with information to come forward.
