Family killed in Crystal Lake-area home died by murder-suicide, shooter likely mentally ill, police conclude

Five months after a family was found shot in their Crystal Lake-area home – and a day after the coroner released their causes of death – the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that it has wrapped up its investigation and determined it was a triple murder-suicide.

The sheriff’s office concluded that the shooter, Jean Song, was “most likely suffering from a mental health crisis,” according to a news release.

Before now, authorities only had referred to Song as an “aggressor.” On Friday, they said he also had a valid firearm owner’s identification card and concealed carry license.

“It was concluded that the incident was a familial domestic situation that escalated from a verbal dispute to physical violence,” the sheriff’s office said. “The male shot at all four females, killing three, before shooting himself.”

McHenry County Coroner Michael Rein said Thursday that the deaths of Chang Hee Song, 73, Yuna Song, 49, and Lauren Smith-Song, 32, all were ruled homicides from multiple gunshot wounds.

The death of Jean Song, 44, was ruled a suicide from a gunshot wound to the head, the coroner wrote in an email. Jean Song died from his injuries while being taken to a hospital.

A fifth person who has not been identified also was seriously injured in the shooting but survived and has been released from the hospital, police said Friday.

Police said they responded about 4 a.m. Aug. 9 to a domestic incident in the 5800 block of Wild Plum Road that started with a 911 call from a woman inside the house saying someone was “shooting their relatives.”

Police arrived at the scene to find the three family members dead and two others seriously wounded.

The sheriff’s office said it had no interaction at that residence before the Aug. 9 shooting.

“[The] McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and its partnering law enforcement agencies work with the Police Social Work program and countless other local social service providers who are specifically trained in aiding residents with many conditions and circumstances,” the sheriff’s office said. “We encourage community members to take advantage of these resources.”

The sheriff’s office worked with the McHenry County Major Investigations Assistance Team during the investigation, according to the release.