Violence Interrupter Shot Dead: Chicago Heights Investigation Continues

Andre Thomas, a 57-year-old community leader from Matteson, spent his career trying to stop gun violence in Chicago. On Halloween night, he was shot and killed in the very neighborhood where he worked.

Thomas ran Integrity & Fidelity, an organization focused on reducing gun violence in Chicago and the south suburbs. His colleagues described him as a quiet force who often worked behind the scenes to de-escalate conflicts before they turned deadly.

The shooting occurred just before 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31 in the 400 block of West 14th Street in Chicago Heights. A gunshot detection system triggered a police response. Officers arrived to find Thomas with multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to a hospital but did not survive.

The investigation into the circumstances of the shooting is ongoing. On Thursday, friends, family, and local leaders gathered in the West Englewood neighborhood to honor Thomas. Outside the headquarters of his organization, attendees lit candles and released balloons.

Ald. David Moore, who represents the 17th Ward, said Thomas was a vital asset to the community. Moore noted that Thomas frequently stopped shootings that never made the news. "What people don't see, he stopped so many shootings," Moore said. "Those things you cannot quantify, those things you cannot measure. But when people are doing the work, you just have to trust them."

Mark Saint, the interim executive director of Integrity & Fidelity, said the organization remains committed to Thomas's goal of replacing gunfire with the sound of children laughing. Saint stated that Thomas's vision would continue even after his death.

The Chicago Heights Police Department is asking residents and business owners to check security cameras for any activity between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. Investigators are accepting tips at the Detective Division, reachable at 708-756-6400.