A father of four, Loyce Wright was working as a security guard at an Austin dollar store last week, when he was shot multiple times — a fatal shooting that police now say was likely sparked by an argument with a former co-worker.
Wright, 43, who was unarmed, eventually died from the Friday shooting. The next day, the former co-worker, Rodgerick O’Neal, was arrested in south suburban Dolton after allegedly shooting at Chicago police officers.
“He was simply at the store and doing his job when his life was tragically taken from him,” Chicago Police Supt. Larry Snelling said of Wright, a resident of west suburban Hanover Park.
O’Neal of Maywood was arrested and now faces 13 charges from both incidents, including first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated battery against a police officer and six counts of resisting arrest, Snelling said during a news conference on Tuesday morning.
O’Neal, 36, allegedly shot Wright around 1:30 p.m. on Friday while Wright was working at a Family Dollar store, 5410 W. Chicago Ave. Wright later died at Stroger Hospital.
His family is still grappling with the loss.
“He was just an awesome dude; I never knew him to have an enemy. He definitely did not deserve that,” said Robin Wright, Loyce Wright’s older sister. “He was a loving guy, loved his family. And for someone to just snatch his life like that, we will never forgive.”
Robin Wright said her tight-knit family will miss her brother’s positive outlook, his humor and his strong desire to protect. The youngest of seven, Loyce Wright enjoyed his job working security, especially working the front door and greeting shoppers. He started working at the Family Dollar less than a year ago.
“He was doing what he loved,” Robin Wright said.
On Saturday, O’Neal was taken into custody in Dolton after exchanging gunfire with Chicago police officers, according to police. He was arrested in the 15200 block of Diekman Court after police received a tip identifying O’Neal and tracked him to Dolton, said Antoinette Ursitti, CPD’s chief of detectives. Detectives also used surveillance footage that they said showed O’Neal near the scene of the shooting.
No one was shot, and officers recovered a firearm from O’Neal, police said. Per department policy, at least one officer was placed on routine administrative duties for 30 days as the Civilian Office of Police Accountability investigates the use of force, the department said on Saturday.
O’Neal previously worked at the Family Dollar, and the shooting likely stemmed from an argument between O’Neal and Wright, Ursitti said.
Snelling said the department pulled out the stops to solve the case.
“I want to extend our deepest condolences to the family of the 43-year-old victim,” Snelling said. “This was truly a department wide effort to apprehend the suspect. … They all did what they could to bring justice to this case and the victim’s family.”
Loyce Wright’s daughter remembers him as a “big teddy bear” who always made time for his four daughters: 21-year-old twins, a 17-year-old and a 9-year-old, his daughter shared with the Sun-Times.
“My father was such a selfless man and loved his community and took care of others as if they were his own flesh and blood and never wanted others to struggle,” Shanice Wright wrote on a GoFundMe page raising funds for her two younger sisters.
When Loyce Wright was heading out to work on Friday, his nephew asked if the vest he was wearing was bulletproof, Robin Wright recalled.
“It’s not,” he replied. “I wear it because it makes me look tough.”
