Berwyn School Shooting: Assistant Principal Nerissa Lee, Mother, and Husband Dead in Domestic Violence Incident

On September 16, 2025, the Berwyn, Illinois, community was left heartbroken after a domestic violence-related school shooting claimed the lives of three people, including Assistant Principal Nerissa Lee.

Pictured: Nerissa Lee

The tragedy unfolded around 4 p.m. outside Lincoln Middle School, located at 6432 16th Street in Berwyn. Police officers nearby heard gunfire and rushed to the scene. According to officials, they found a man armed with a rifle firing into another vehicle. When officers attempted to intervene, the gunman opened fire on them, forcing police to take cover.

46-year-old Nerissa Lee, who worked as an assistant principal, was killed in the shooting, along with her mother. Authorities have not yet released her mother’s name publicly.

No students were injured, though the school was placed on lockdown as the incident unfolded. Classes resumed on Thursday.

The suspect, identified as 54-year-old Steven Lee, Nerissa’s husband, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police reports and local news sources suggest the couple had been in a troubled relationship, which reportedly reached a “boiling point” earlier this summer.

This Illinois domestic violence case has left residents shaken and devastated. Colleagues, parents, and students are mourning the loss of a beloved educator who made a lasting impact on her school and community.

Rest in Peace, Assistant Principal Nerissa Lee. Her memory will live on through the many lives she touched.

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Sources:

• NBC Chicago

• People