Police find ‘inconsistencies’ in story of uncle killed while trying to save niece from sexual assault

CHICAGO - Police say they have found “inconsistencies” in a reported sexual assault that resulted in the fatal shooting of a 66-year-old man Thursday in Burnside on the South Side.

Investigators say they found holes in the story originally reported to investigators, according to Chicago police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi.

Police initially said a male entered though the window of a bedroom and sexually assaulted a 17-year-old girl. Her uncle was shot and killed by the attacker after hearing her screams and rushing to her aid, police said.

But police said Friday evening that original narrative may be false.

“Based on interrogations, it appears that the victim had knowledge of or knew the individual whom she invited into the home,” Guglielmi said. “This was not some random prowler who made a home invasion and then a sexual assault.”

Police are still investigating if the attack involved a sexual assault, Guglielmi said.

To protect the identity of the girl, the Sun-Times is not naming the uncle.

An autopsy Sunday ruled his death a homicide, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. He died of multiple gunshot wounds.

No charges have been filed.