Palatine Police: Dispute Over Family Dog Caused Murder-Suicide

A dispute over a family dog precipitated a shooting Sunday in Palatine that left two people dead, Palatine police said.

Edward Kuemper, 49, 1540 E. Reynolds Drive, shot 21-year-old Bradley Morrison at about 8:34 p.m. before turning the .40 caliber handgun on himself, police say.

Palatine police said that Kuemper and his wife were having marital problems and that she lived outside of the home. According to neighbors, Morrison and Kuemper's daughter had a relationship.

On Sunday, Morrison, Kuemper's wife, and daughter went to the home on Reynolds Drive to retrieve the family dog. Police said that Kuemper refused to give the animal up and the incident escalated.

Police said that Morrison and Kuemper previously had not gotten along.

"[They] engaged in a verbal argument which turned deadly when Mr. Kuemper took his .40 caliber handgun and shot Mr. Morrison twice as Mr. Morrison tried to leave the residence," Palatine police stated in a press release.

Police said that shortly after shooting Morrison, Kuemper shot himself, ending his own life.

"They were just very nice people, very family-oriented," said Amy Waldmann, a neighbor of the Kuempers for about 14 years.

"It's the classic, 'Didn't see it coming,'" said Amy's husband, Bob Waldmann. "Not this guy."

The Waldmanns' 21-year-old daughter, Jane Waldmann, said that Kuemper's wife called Sunday night, asking if they had seen the dog. Jane Waldmann said she was unsure if the animal had been located.

"I know they were still looking for it last night," Jane Waldmann said.