CALUMET CITY, Ill. – Authorities are actively pursuing suspects after a man was fatally shot while shielding his sister during a robbery attempt in Calumet City on Thursday night. Steven Cotner, who delivered pizzas alongside his sister Allison, was killed in the incident while Allison sustained injuries from the attackers.
The siblings were on a routine delivery for Windy City Pizza Works when they arrived at the 400 block of Merrill Avenue around 8 p.m. Unbeknownst to them, the delivery order was a setup for an armed robbery.
Allison recounted the terrifying moments when two masked teens, disguised in black and showing only their eyes, confronted them with firearms. One of the assailants assaulted her, striking her left eye. In response, Steven intervened to protect his sister. Despite the violence, the perpetrators made off without any money.
Steven and his sister were working to save up money, planning to split their earnings for personal goals. At 23, Steven aspired to move out of their family home in Hammond, Indiana, where they shared a close-knit bond among their six siblings.
The Calumet City Police Department, along with the South Suburban Major Crimes Task Force, is leading the investigation. They urge anyone with information to contact them.