A man inadvertently shot and killed his wife while cleaning his firearm before turning the weapon on himself, resulting in his own death, police confirmed. 

Simeon Hendrickson, a 61-year-old resident of Bolingbrook, Illinois, was inside his house at around 5:45 pm Saturday, July 15, engaged in the maintenance of one of his handguns when the firearm “accidentally discharged and the round struck his wife,” Laurie Hendrickson, 60, according to the Bolingbrook Police Department.

Realizing what had happened, Simeon Hendrickson then made the fateful decision to end his own life with the same handgun he had been cleaning. He was pronounced dead at the scene by responding officers, who initially received a report of a man who had accidentally shot himself while cleaning a firearm. However, as they arrived, new information surfaced, indicating that two shots had been fired and his wife had been injured.

Following the incident, Laurie Hendrickson was transported to a nearby hospital, but despite efforts to save her life, she was later pronounced dead. The heartbreaking loss has left their loved ones, including their son Derek Hendrickson, mourning their tragic deaths. Derek expressed his grief in a heartfelt Facebook post, highlighting his parents’ immense love and respect, describing them as the epitome of exceptional parenting.

As evident from his public Facebook posts, Simeon Hendrickson was known for his expertise in providing concealed carry classes at a facility in suburban Chicago. 

In 2021, the Pew Research Center reported 549 accidental gun deaths in the United States, emphasizing the need for enhanced safety measures and awareness surrounding firearms.