Shorewood man died from gunshot wound in Elwood: coroner

A 30-year-old man from Shorewood was shot to death in Elwood, according to the Will County Coroner’s Office.

Robert Bigger was pronounced deceased at 11:58 a.m. Friday on Baseline Road between Arsenal Road and Noel Road in Elwood, Will County coroner officials said in a news release that was posted on their Facebook page.

“Mr. Bigger is the victim of an apparent gunshot wound,” officials said.

Bigger’s autopsy was scheduled for Saturday. The final cause and manner of death will be determined at a later date, pending police, autopsy and toxicological reports, the coroner’s office said.

At 4:40 a.m. Friday, the police received a call from a truck driver regarding a suspicious or disabled vehicle on Baseline Road, said Elwood Police Chief Fred Hayes.

A police officer arrived at the scene, approached the vehicle and saw a deceased man in the driver’s seat who was slumped over the wheel, Hayes said. The man had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, he said.

Hayes said the police learned that Bigger had just left his place of employment, which is the Home Depot warehouse that’s located at Centerpoint Way and Baseline Road.

The Will-Grundy Major Crimes Task Force was called down to Elwood to assist the police there with what was described Friday morning as the investigation of a “suspicious death.”

Major crimes task force Chairman Dan Jungles confirmed the task force was activated.

When asked about whether the incident was a homicide and other questions, Jungles said he could not comment on the investigation. He said the task force’s policy dictates that the host agency is to respond to all matters of media concern regarding an activation, unless it’s an officer-involved shooting.

Elwood police and Will County Sheriff’s deputies were on the scene of the investigation on Baseline Road north of Arsenal Road throughout Friday morning.

A white sedan was parked on Baseline. The area was blocked off and Elwood police were diverting traffic.