Home U.S. Coin Forum

Possible attempted robbery and shooting of jewelry and coin dealer

Michigan doesn't have his PM function on or I'd have him post this as he's usually the news link. Looks like a son of a jewelry and coin dealer was shot at his home during a robbery attempt in the Chicago area.

From the ABC 7 News website:
February 21, 2007 - Relatives of a suburban man shot and killed in his home say robbery may have been the motive. Police in northwest suburban Niles are looking for two people in the shooting of 28-year-old Michael Childers.

Detectives interviewed relatives as well as witnesses Wednesday night at the Niles Police Department. They were also still out at the scene, and one crucial piece of evidence may be a neighbor's outdoor security camera. Police are not commenting about that camera.
Investigators searched this Niles neighborhood late into the evening hunting for anything that may help them solve this homicide.

"We're not calling it a home investigation. We don t know whether they were led into the house," said Sgt. Tom Davis, Niles Police.

Relatives have identified the victim as 28-year-old Michael Childers. He tiled floor for a living and lived with his father, Leonard Bird, at their home on Susan Court.

Relatives say Bird was also home at the time of the shooting.

"My brother was upstairs and Michael opened the door and bang, bang, bang, my brother heard shots, he says, and they killed Michael, a 28-year-old kid. I can t believe this, they killed him. They just shot him in the head," said Karen Nielsen, victim's aunt.

The shooting happened about 2:45 p.m

Police will not comment about a motive, but the family is certain it is robbery, because Bird is a jewelry and coin dealer and someone tried to break into the home a few months ago. This time, relatives say, the killers asked about the family's safe.

"One of them, I guess, ran downstairs to see the safe and the safe was open and there was nothing there," said Nielsen.

The suspects fled, triggering a neighborhood manhunt, and lockdowns at nearby schools and a daycare center.

Wednesday night, the family had harsh words for the suspects.

"Just cheap trash. Who can take a life for possessions? Why would you kill someone just to rob for material things, take a life, that's the scum of the earth," said Nielsen.

Police are asking for the public's help in solving this case. They have not released any descriptions of the suspects. When specifically asked about whether this was random or perhaps this family was targeted, police would only answer that the neighborhood should feel safe.

Comments

  • numismanumisma Posts: 3,877 ✭✭✭✭

    Terrible news. I know Lenny from the Chicago Sunday shows. Hope they catch the scum bags who did this. The sad thing is that you cannot legally carry a gun in Chicago, yet all of the crooks there do carry. They should change that law.
  • Bad news, Lenny certainly has had his share of tragic events.image
    "Wars are really ugly! They're dirty
    and they're cold.
    I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
    Mary






    Best Franklin Website
  • LongacreLongacre Posts: 16,717 ✭✭✭
    That is terrible news.

    I can't believe you scooped Michigan. Is he sick today?
    Always took candy from strangers
    Didn't wanna get me no trade
    Never want to be like papa
    Working for the boss every night and day
    --"Happy", by the Rolling Stones (1972)
  • cohocorpcohocorp Posts: 1,371 ✭✭
    terrible.
  • Niles is in South west Michigan.

    Ray
  • BochimanBochiman Posts: 25,556 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Things like this are why I am for the death penalty.
    When crimes like this are commited, I could care less about attempts to rehabilitate people. I would rather they not get another chance to do such a thing and perhaps to deter others from doing it in the first place.

    I've been told I tolerate fools poorly...that may explain things if I have a problem with you. Current ebay items - Nothing at the moment

  • tyler267tyler267 Posts: 1,306 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Niles is in South west Michigan.

    Ray >>



    There is a Niles Illinois Also, a northwestern suburb of Chicago.

    This is terrible!
  • ziggy29ziggy29 Posts: 18,668 ✭✭✭


    << <i>The sad thing is that you cannot legally carry a gun in Chicago, yet all of the crooks there do carry. They should change that law. >>

    You mean criminals don't obey the law? image

    Try 'em and fry 'em.
  • This has nothing to do with legal carry; this was a home invasion.

    Cook County (where Niles is) allows firearms in the home.

    WGN news said that Mr. Bird did attempt to fire back.


    sad story...
  • tmot99tmot99 Posts: 5,238 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Niles is in South west Michigan.

    Ray >>



    This is the NW burb of Chicago that we are talking about.
  • MadMartyMadMarty Posts: 16,697 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Niles is in South west Michigan.

    Ray >>



    This is Niles IL, I know Lenny, what a tragic story!
    It is not exactly cheating, I prefer to consider it creative problem solving!!!



  • << <i>The sad thing is that you cannot legally carry a gun in Chicago >>



    civilians cannot carry a concealed weapon (handgun) anywhere in illinois. chicago specifically prohibits handgun ownership



    << <i>They should change that law.
    >>



    Yes, they should change both.
  • percybpercyb Posts: 3,333 ✭✭✭✭
    Hopefully they'll find the muderers.
    "Poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world." PBShelley
  • CoxeCoxe Posts: 11,139


    << <i>Hopefully they'll find the muderers. >>



    Won't matter once it is shown that we, as society, failed those poor men and will need to rehabilitate them.
    Select Rarities -- DMPLs and VAMs
    NSDR - Life Member
    SSDC - Life Member
    ANA - Pay As I Go Member
  • Concealed carry is allowed in Illinois in your home or place of business.

    Lenny was certainly "at home".

    Awful nice guy, too.
    "Wars are really ugly! They're dirty
    and they're cold.
    I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
    Mary






    Best Franklin Website
  • dorancoinsdorancoins Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Concealed carry is allowed in Illinois in your home or place of business.

    Lenny was certainly "at home".

    Awful nice guy, too. >>



    While that is true, Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states that do not allow concealed carry as we know it. I know Mr. Bird and what happened here is very tragic. My condolences go out to Mr. Bird and his family in this time of grief. image
    DORAN COINS - On Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), & www.dorancoins.net - UPCOMING SHOWS (tentative dates)- 10/8/2023 - Fairfield, IL, 11/5/2023 - Urbana, IL., 12/3/2023 - Mattoon, IL.
  • dorancoinsdorancoins Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Terrible news. I know Lenny from the Chicago Sunday shows. Hope they catch the scum bags who did this. The sad thing is that you cannot legally carry a gun in Chicago, yet all of the crooks there do carry. They should change that law. >>



    Numisma, I hope those who did this are caught and given the worse punishment possible. Yes, guns are illegal in the city of Chicago, but not in the suburbs (with few exceptions). I have said this before and I will say it again, Illinois needs a concealed carry law but as long as the anti-gun, liberal Democrats (like Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich (pronounced blah-goy-uh-vich), Chicago Mayor Richard M Daley, and the majority of the Illinois legislature) run Illinois, this will never ever happen. Only when people in my state will have enough guts to vote more pro-gun people in the legislature will the chances of a concealed carry law change for the better.
    DORAN COINS - On Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), & www.dorancoins.net - UPCOMING SHOWS (tentative dates)- 10/8/2023 - Fairfield, IL, 11/5/2023 - Urbana, IL., 12/3/2023 - Mattoon, IL.
  • CIVITASCIVITAS Posts: 2,256 ✭✭✭
    Terrible news. Lenny always has the table right across from us at the Countryside, IL show.

    Hope they're warming up the chair for these two.
    image
    https://www.civitasgalleries.com

    New coins listed monthly!

    Josh Moran

    CIVITAS Galleries, Ltd.


  • << <i>

    << <i>The sad thing is that you cannot legally carry a gun in Chicago >>



    civilians cannot carry a concealed weapon (handgun) anywhere in illinois. chicago specifically prohibits handgun ownership



    << <i>They should change that law.
    >>



    Yes, they should change both. >>




    technically, Chicago bans registering guns.......they arrest you for not registering, not owning them.
    imageDo not taunt Happy Fun Ball image
  • dorancoinsdorancoins Posts: 2,091 ✭✭✭


    << <i>Terrible news. Lenny always has the table right across from us at the Countryside, IL show.

    Hope they're warming up the chair for these two. >>



    image
    DORAN COINS - On Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), & www.dorancoins.net - UPCOMING SHOWS (tentative dates)- 10/8/2023 - Fairfield, IL, 11/5/2023 - Urbana, IL., 12/3/2023 - Mattoon, IL.
  • There is no gun "registration " in the sorry state of IL.
    "Wars are really ugly! They're dirty
    and they're cold.
    I don't want nobody to shoot me in the foxhole."
    Mary






    Best Franklin Website
  • FinallyHereFinallyHere Posts: 821 ✭✭✭
    I knew Lenny but not like Larry did...they go back quite a ways. Larry called him this morning to see if there was anything we could do help in any way. Lenny told Larry his son was everything to him.....this is heartbreaking and terribly sad. My prayers go out to the entire family.
    Mike Printz
    Harlan J. Berk, Ltd.
    https://hjbltd.com/#!/department/us-coins


  • << <i>There is no gun "registration " in the sorry state of IL. >>




    none in Arizona either..........you just go to the store or to a person and buy one..........image
    imageDo not taunt Happy Fun Ball image
  • Lenny has been a dealer here in the Chicagoland area for decades , his pain can be felt by each and every one of us .
    The brutal slaying of his son is a terrible injustice and he and his family will be in all our prayers I`m sure .


    Imagine your son shot dead in your own home while you are there ............
    so utterly sad - Lenny : you let us know if there is anything any of us can do .
  • Lenny DID have a gun -and he used it ; he fired several rounds at the fleeing murderers .

    His son was still slain . I do not think guns are a useful deterant when criminals are intent on killing/stealing . To them , gun`s are a way of life -and you having one means little.
  • BlindedByEgoBlindedByEgo Posts: 10,754 ✭✭✭✭✭
    A sad reminder

Leave a Comment

BoldItalicStrikethroughOrdered listUnordered list
Emoji
Image
Align leftAlign centerAlign rightToggle HTML viewToggle full pageToggle lights
Drop image/file