Search continues for suspect who murdered US Postal worker on Far South Side

CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - Local law enforcement agencies are continuing their search this weekend for the suspect who shot and killed a Chicago letter carrier on Friday.

Chicago Police are expecting to review video surveillance footage, hoping that leads them to the shooter who killed 48-year-old U.S. Postal worker Octavia Redmond in broad daylight.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service's Spencer Block said their agents are scouring the neighborhood for clues.

"Investigating the loss of life is the most important thing we can do, so when we lose one of our own, a postal employee, we take it as seriously as anything we can do in this job," Block said.

According to CPD, the incident occurred shortly before 11:40 a.m. Friday in front of a house at 121st and Harvard Avenue in the West Pullman Neighborhood. Redmond was approached by a male suspect who pulled out a gun and shot her, police said. The suspect then fled the scene in a car that headed westbound on 121st Street.

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) Chicago Division confirmed the woman was an on-duty letter carrier.

Redmond suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was transported to Advocate Christ Medical Center. She initially was listed in critical, the Chicago Fire Department said, but later died.

Postal Inspectors are offering a reward up to $250,000 for any information that would lead to the arrest and conviction of the suspect or suspects.

Elise Foster, president of the National Letter Carriers Association, told WBBM Friday's tragedy dumbfounds her.

"She was just delivering her mail, and she was shot. Why? I don't know," Foster said. "I don't know if there was a motive for robbery, but she was delivering mail, working, and her life was taken."

Foster believes letter carriers need greater protection.

"It's going to take some action from Congress...We're going have to have security alone for us and following us on our route. We're going to have to be able to somebody to have our backs while we're delivering mail," Foster said.

CPD Area 2 Detectives are investigating.

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