What should have been a joyful evening ended in tragedy when a woman was shot and killed at a wedding in Illinois. The shooter? Her own father-in-law, who was reportedly angry over her decision to divorce his son. Here’s how this shocking incident unfolded.
Woman Shot Outside Hotel Wedding Venue
On Friday night, police in Schaumburg, a suburb near Chicago, rushed to the Marriott Hotel on North Martingale Road after receiving reports of a shooting around 10:15 p.m.
They found a woman in the parking lot with a gunshot wound to her head. The woman, identified as 45-year-old Christine Moyer from Ohio, was quickly taken to a nearby hospital but sadly died from her injuries.
Father-in-Law Accused of Murder
Police say the shooter was 76-year-old Roland Schmidt, the father of Moyer’s husband. Investigators believe Schmidt was angry because Moyer had filed for divorce from his son. Witnesses said that after the wedding, as Moyer was leaving the event, Schmidt followed her into the parking lot and shot her in the head.
A bystander at the scene managed to stop Schmidt until police arrived. Officers recovered the weapon and arrested him without further trouble.
Police Investigation Reveals Family Conflict
According to the police investigation, Schmidt was deeply upset about the divorce. Reports say this disagreement pushed him to commit the violent act. The suspect is from Stillman Valley, a town located around 13 miles southwest of Rockford, Illinois.
He has now been charged with first-degree murder and is being held at the Cook County Jail. Schmidt is scheduled to appear before a judge on Monday.
Witness Describes Chaos at the Scene
A guest at the hotel, Flory Sommers, said she had just entered the hotel when the shooting happened. Speaking to local news outlet WFLD, she shared that people suddenly started shouting about a gunshot.
“I was near the ATM and heard someone say ‘gunshot!’ Then the hotel manager said he was calling an ambulance, and people quickly moved to the lobby and elevators,” she said.
A happy celebration turned into a heartbreaking tragedy because of a family dispute. Christine Moyer lost her life at a wedding – a place meant for joy – simply because she wanted to move on from her marriage.
The act has shocked the Schaumburg community and left everyone questioning how such a horrific incident could happen during a family event. Police are continuing their investigation, and the case will go before the courts soon.
