A husband and wife died Tuesday in Elmwood Park in an apparent murder-suicide, officials said.
Grace Briglio, 71, and Nicholas Briglio, 72, were found shot in their home on the 7900 block of West Westwood Drive, according to a spokesman for the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Grace Briglio was pronounced dead at Gottlieb Memorial Hospital in Melrose Park at 11:46 a.m. from a gunshot wound, the spokesman said.
Nicholas Briglio was pronounced dead at the home at 11:31 a.m. after being shot in an apparent suicide, the spokesman said.
Grace Briglio had grown increasingly frail and could not walk up and down the stairs unaided, neighbors said. She had been sick for a long time, neighbors said.
George Sadilek, one of the Briglios’ neighbors, said he has known the couple for almost 40 years. His children and the Briglios’ children had grown up together, Sadilek said.
“They were wonderful neighbors. They were like family,” Sadilek said. “He’s been a caregiver for her for many years. It’s become increasingly difficult.”
Sadilek said he does not know what could have prompted the killing.
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“Their loss is going to be severely felt,” he said. “I’m sure that anybody that knew them is going to really, really miss them because they were really fine people. It’s just a sad situation.”
Neighbors did not hear gunshots in the quiet, tree-lined neighborhood of older bungalows. An orange sign was in the window of the home, saying keep out. Neighbors reported seeing yellow crime tape.
Elmwood Park Police Department officials declined to comment.
An autopsy was scheduled for Wednesday.
Tribune reporter Serena Maria Daniels contributed. Deborah Kadin is a freelance writer; Carlos Sadovi is a Tribune reporter.