Justin McCauley, 36, was killed after warning a store employee about masked men outside the Brighton Park station, reports said.
CHICAGO, IL — A 36-year-old customer was shot and killed during an armed robbery at a Thorntons gas station in Chicago’s Brighton Park neighborhood early Aug. 25, police said. The victim was later identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office as Justin McCauley of Willowbrook.
The shooting happened about 2:52 a.m. at the Thorntons at 3450 S. California Ave. on the city’s Southwest Side. Chicago police said one or more people armed with handguns entered the business and demanded money from the register. As the group fled with cash, one of the robbers opened fire on McCauley, striking him several times. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Additional reporting provided more detail about the moments before the robbery. A police report obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times said a white Hyundai carrying four men pulled into the parking lot and circled the station. McCauley, a regular customer who had stopped for coffee and gas while heading to work, noticed men wearing masks and warned the clerk about them, according to the report and witness accounts.
The Sun-Times reported that one man entered the store and asked to use the restroom while McCauley spoke with the clerk. The clerk planned to lock the door after McCauley left, according to the report. As McCauley tried to leave, other members of the group got out of the vehicle and opened fire before the robbery was completed. Police have not publicly announced the identities of any suspects.
McCauley worked as a truck driver and was only blocks from his job when he was killed, according to his family and employer. His relatives described him as a devoted father and family member. CBS Chicago reported that he leaves behind a 6-year-old son. Family members said McCauley routinely stopped at the gas station before work and had been getting his usual coffee that morning.
McCauley’s family has publicly called for information that could help investigators identify those responsible. His father, Steve McCauley, told CBS Chicago that the family was struggling with the sudden loss and remembered his final conversation with his son as an exchange in which they told each other they loved one another. Relatives said they hope someone with information about the robbery will come forward to authorities.
Midwest Foods, where McCauley worked, also mourned his death. The company said he was well regarded by colleagues and clients and described his killing as a senseless tragedy. The statement offered condolences to his family as police continued investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting and robbery.
Thorntons is owned by BP. Company spokesperson Cesar Rodriguez said BP was deeply saddened by the incident and noted that no employees were injured. He said the company was cooperating with local authorities during the investigation. Police also reported no other injuries connected to the Aug. 25 robbery.
The killing marked the second reported shooting at the same Thorntons location in two years. In September 2024, three people, including two employees, were shot after armed suspects chased a 25-year-old man into the station, according to earlier police accounts. The previous shooting and the latest robbery have not been publicly linked by investigators.
As of Aug. 31, police had announced no arrests in McCauley’s killing. Area One detectives are investigating, and authorities have not publicly released a motive beyond the circumstances surrounding the armed robbery or announced the identities of the people being sought.
Author note: Last updated August 31, 2026.