SCHAUMBURG, IL – What was meant to be a celebration turned deadly Friday evening when a woman was fatally shot outside a hotel in this Chicago suburb, authorities said.
Police responded to a report of gunfire at the Marriott on North Martingale Road just after 10 p.m. Officers arriving at the scene discovered Christine Moyer, 45, of Ohio, in the hotel’s parking lot with a gunshot wound to her head. First responders transported Moyer to a hospital, but she died from her injuries.
Investigators say that Roland Schmidt, 76, allegedly fired the fatal shot. Officers found that a bystander had wrestled Schmidt to the ground after the shooting and secured the firearm until authorities arrived. Police took Schmidt into custody without further incident.
Detectives learned that Schmidt and Moyer were attending a wedding at the hotel. According to initial findings, tensions escalated after Schmidt became upset when Moyer filed divorce paperwork against his son. Police said that as the wedding festivities wound down, Schmidt allegedly followed his daughter-in-law out to the parking lot and shot her.
Schmidt, a resident of Stillman Valley, approximately 13 miles southwest of Rockford, was charged with first-degree murder. He is being held at the Cook County Jail and is scheduled to appear before a judge on Monday.
Guests inside the hotel at the time described a scene of chaos and confusion unfolding in the moments after the shooting. Flory Sommers, who had just entered the hotel with friends, said there was commotion as people realized what had happened. Some rushed toward the elevators while others waited for emergency services to arrive.
Authorities said no other injuries were reported during the incident. Investigators spent the night processing the crime scene and reviewing security footage from the hotel.
Officials did not immediately release additional details about the events leading up to the shooting or whether anyone else witnessed the confrontation between Schmidt and Moyer outside. Police did note that a member of the public who intervened helped prevent any further harm until officers could take control of the situation.
The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is assisting in the ongoing investigation. Police have not said whether Schmidt has retained legal counsel. The Schaumburg Police Department has urged anyone with further information or video footage from the hotel to come forward.
Moyer’s family has requested privacy as they grieve the loss of their loved one. The hotel did not comment on the shooting but confirmed that operations have resumed as police concluded their on-site investigation.