Get at least 6 FREE Stock Shares today

As a former investigative journalist and retired detective, the relentless surge of gun violence never ceases to distress me. Damian Dunning, a devoted father, brother, nephew, and cousin, has become yet another victim of such violence. His premature demise leaves an unfillable void in his family, who concurrently grapple with the loss of another kin to similar circumstances.

Damian Dunning, an active family figure and a staunch public servant, was a familiar face in the USPS family. A loving father to a 7-year-old boy and a caring uncle, Dunning heavily influenced the lives he intersected. As his elder brother, Roy Shannon Jr., put it, “He’s been there for my son since day one.” Further describing Dunning as “a great person, a great father, and a great uncle,” it’s evident his absence will be profoundly felt.

So, what happened on that fateful Sunday night? Driving back home to Hyde Park, after leaving his nephew, the then 41-year-old Dunning was brutally gunned down. A supposed road rage incident on the Stevenson Expressway ramp to DuSable Lake Shore Drive near McCormick Place around 10:30 p.m. ended his life prematurely.

The family piece together the narrative, revealing that the authorities hinted at a possible road rage incident as the causal factor. However, road rage often escalates to aggressive driving or heated verbal exchanges, not shooting, as observed by Shannon. Most road rage incidents lead to a middle finger, not bullets, he argued.

The incident, which took Dunning’s life, remains unsolved, further intensifying the already thick atmosphere of the grief-stricken family. It occurred while the family was still mourning the loss of Dunning’s cousin, 43-year-old Loyce Wright, who too was a casualty of gun violence. Loyce was fatally shot inside a west-side Family Dollar store while performing his duty as a security guard and a father to four kids. The sequence of the two incidents hardly seems coincidental, raising questions about possible connections.

Robin Wright, the elder sister of Loyce, described the crushing ordeal as being “gutted like a fish.” The distraught woman had just finished writing her brother’s obituary when the news of Dunning’s murder broke, further rupturing her already torn heart. Alluding to the significant roles of her brother and Dunning, she informed “they were the peace-keepers.”

Dunning, a letter carrier, also dabbled in entrepreneurship, creating a music app. An individual of such character deserves justice, and his murderers, punishment. Shannon insisted, “If you’re man enough to take a life, then you’re man enough to confess to it.”

Driven by anger and an internal fury, Shannon demands justice for his brother’s untimely departure. Agencies, like the Illinois State Police, have taken up the case, but no suspects are in custody yet. The USPS expressed their condolences for their lost co-worker and extended support services to his colleagues.

To lose one family member to a violent crime is tragic enough, but two in quick succession amplifies the pain and the unanswered questions. As a true crime expert, I continue to be drawn to such cases, striving to bring closure for families and justice to victims.

My utmost sympathies are extended towards Dunning’s family and friends during this treacherous time. As we witness this incident, it serves as a sobering reminder of the continuous battle against gun violence plaguing our society. The pernicious ripple effect of these actions not only affects the immediate victims but extends its malevolent reach to those closely associated. I invite everyone to join me in painstakingly unraveling this intricate web of seemingly related incidents, seeking justice for the victims, and eventually, peace for the grieving.

Get at least 6 FREE Stock Shares today