Arrest warrant issued
in railroad guard slaying
Cops call on suspect to ‘turn yourself in'
Police in Harvey, Ill., are searching for a 24-year-old convicted felon in connection with the weekend shooting death of a railroad security guard, authorities said.
Rashad Williams, who has addresses in East Hazel Crest, Ill., and Park Forest, Ill., is wanted for the shooting death of 38-year-old Tyrone Hardin, police said at a Thursday news conference in Harvey. A warrant for Williams' arrest was issued Wednesday night, Harvey police Deputy Chief Gregory Thomas said.
Thomas called on Williams, who is believed to still be in the area, to “do what's right and turn yourself in.” The deputy chief also encouraged Williams' family and anyone else who knows him to call authorities.
Hardin's wife and family are desperately seeking the man responsible for his death to turn himself in, Thomas said.
“They're looking for answers,” Thomas said.
Hardin, of Merrillville, was fatally wounded Saturday while working on Canadian National Railway property in the 15800 block of West Avenue, officials said. Hardin was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. Saturday at Advocate South Suburban Hospital, according to the medical examiner's office.
Hardin was working as a contracted security guard for Canadian National when he was killed by Williams as he was fleeing officers, authorities said.
“By all accounts, Tyrone Hardin was a great man,” said Harvey police Chief Denard Eaves.
Hardin's stepdaughter, Sharell Oliver, 26, of Gary, said she was older when her mother met him. Nevertheless, she described Hardin as a wonderful role model for her younger brothers.
“I was just about done with (high school), but my brothers were in seventh and eighth grade, and he would always volunteer for their basketball teams,” Oliver said Thursday. “He was a caring volunteer.”
Oliver said he also took his security job seriously and took pride in his work.
During the Thursday news conference, police confirmed that Williams allegedly also shot at, but did not hit, a second person in the same incident. They declined to comment on details about the second person.
Eaves said police in the departments investigating the shooting death consider Hardin a fellow law enforcement officer. Officers have slept at the Harvey Police Department as they have spent the last several days investigating the death of one of their own, Eaves said.
Hardin had been working as a security guard for the Hazel Crest company Gideon's 300 Security Services Inc. for a year and a half, according to a statement from company President Lawrence Moore. The firm was contracted by Canadian National.
Harvey police had been pursuing a stolen vehicle when it crashed in the area of 159th Street and Park Avenue. The driver got out and ran on top of a viaduct, which led to an area belonging to Canadian National, Harvey spokesman Sean Howard said previously. The driver then came in contact with Hardin and shot him several times in the abdomen, Howard said.
After shooting the security guard, the man got on a railroad car headed south. Around 171st Street, he jumped from the rail car and ran away from the authorities, Howard said.
Williams is described as 6 feet tall and weighs between 170 and 190 pounds with hazel-brown eyes. He has prior convictions that include at least one weapon offense and is considered dangerous, authorities said.
Funeral arrangement have been made for Hardin, authorities said. His wake is scheduled for 10 a.m. and his funeral is set for 11 a.m. Dec. 10 at the Harvey Church of Christ, 15246 Marshfield Ave.
Police have established a tip line for anyone with information about the slaying. The number is 708-331-2131.
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