‘Tragic situation’ unfolds after masked man follows teen girls in northwest suburb

A scary scene unraveled Tuesday afternoon in northwest suburban Cary after a masked man began following two teen girls, with the suspect spotted driving in the neighborhood and later taking his own life, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said.

In a press release, the sheriff’s office described the incident as a “tragic situation for everyone involved” as an investigation continues.

About 3:25 p.m., two teen girls were walking home in the area of Fox River Road and North Harvest Glen Road, in unincorporated Cary when a man driving a sedan pulled up in front of them, the sheriff’s office said. The car parked in the direction the teens were walking, and the driver, described as a suspicious man wearing a mask, approached them.

The teens then ran towards their home, police said, and notifying family members of the incident. A father and brother of one of the teens then drove through the subdivision to see if they could locate the vehicle, which they found driving through the neighborhood.

According to the sheriff’s office, the man then blocked the path of the father and brother and brandished a gun.

The father and son then called 911, and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office attempted to conduct a traffic stop of the sedan. The driver then pulled into a parking lot area of Crystal Lake Road and Foxford Drive and shot himself, police said.

The driver, identified as a 32-year-old man from Cary, was transported to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead.

“This is undoubtedly a tragic situation for everyone involved,” the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said in the release. “The teens in this case did the right thing by not engaging with the man and running away, while summoning trusted adults to help them. We are very thankful they are safe.”

According to the release, the incident is under investigation by the McHenry County Conservation District Police and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. An autopsy is scheduled.