Chicago Police investigate a homicide in the 1000 block of North Willard Court early Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
Chicago Police believe the fatal shootings of Phillip Lewis and Lawrence Washington -- about five hours and a block apart in the Goose Island neighborhood on the Near North Side -- are related, but they aren't sure how.
Early Thursday, a man was found shot to death in the 1000 block of north Willard Court, according to Chicago Police.
The 35-year-old was found in the driver’s seat of his car with a gunshot wound to the head at 12:18 a.m., according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office. He was pronounced dead at the scene, but the medical examiner’s office had not released his name as of Thursday afternoon.
However, the Illinois Department of Corrections identified him as Washington, a correctional officer with the department since 2003. He worked at the Stateville Correctional Center and lived in south suburban Markham.
Chicago Police investigate in the 1000 block of North Willard Court, where a 35-year-old man was found shot to death in the driver's seat of a parked vehicle early Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times
"The IDOC sends deep regards and condolences to the family and friends of Lawrence Washington," the statement said.
A post on the Facebook page of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 263 read: "We have lost another law enforcement brother to the violence of the streets of Chicago. Let's keep his family in your prayers."
About five hours earlier, the 33-year-old Lewis was found shot to death about a block away in the 900 block of North Racine at 7:11 p.m. Wednesday, the medical examiner’s office and police said. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:16 p.m. He lived in the 6200 block of Garden View in Matteson.
Police believe the shootings are connected, and are exploring the “relationship and backgrounds of the victims” to find a possible motive, CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.
The shootings are not thought to be-gang related, but police “sense” the victims may have known their attackers, Guglielmi said.
Sources said Lewis, who worked as a union pipefitter, was acquainted with Williams, and the two had worked together buying and rehabbing vacant properties.
Area Central detectives are investigating.
--Chicago Sun-Times Wire and Homicide Watch Chicago