The coroner’s office reports that 10 people, including active duty U.S. Navy sailors and family members from Naval Station Great Lakes in Lake County, have died so far in 2025 in an increase from prior years.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office said there have been 10 deaths associated with Naval Station Great Lakes with victims that were all between the ages of 18 and 39.
A 37-year-old man, who was active duty, died from a gunshot wound in a suicide on base.
A 39-year-old man died from a gunshot wound in a suicide after he fatally shot his spouse, a 36-year-old woman and active duty service member, whose death was ruled a homicide, at off-base housing on October 10.
They were identified as Olivia Lacey, 36, of North Chicago, and John Taylor, 39, of North Chicago.
North Chicago Police Chief Lazaro Perez said that an investigation showed the incident was a “murder-suicide.”
Sources told Lake and McHenry County Scanner that the incident possibly began with an argument involving the two outside of a house.
Witnesses at the scene told investigators that Taylor was armed with a gun and shot Lacey before shooting himself.
The shooting occurred in Forrestal Village, which is located near Naval Station Great Lakes and houses active duty Military members and their families.
A 28-year-old woman, who was an active duty service member, died in a vehicle crash on base on May 4 and her death was ruled a suicide.
The crash occurred on Ziegemeier Street within Naval Station Great Lakes, which is a street located along the shore of Lake Michigan.
A Honda sedan, driven by 28-year-old Makaio Bartley, appeared to be traveling southbound on Ziegemeier Street when it struck a guardrail and then a concrete wall, leaving her dead at the scene.
An 18-year-old man, who was an active duty service member, died by gunshot wound in a suicide that occurred on base on August 6.
He was identified as Kayshawn Wilkerson, 18, of Ocala, Florida, and most recently residing at Great Lakes.
Emergency crews arrived and found Wilkerson, who was unresponsive, and lifesaving measures were performed but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident reportedly occurred at Building 7315 — the USS Wisconsin Firing Range — at Naval Station Great Lakes near North Chicago.
Police were seen around both Building 7315 and Building 7325, which are adjacent to each other. Building 7325 is the USS Missouri Simulated Small Arms Marksmanship Trainer.
The coroner said Wilkerson suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Among the other cases this year was a 20-year-old woman, who was the dependent of a service member, died from an overdose in a suicide in base housing.
A 22-year-old man, who was an active duty service member, died in the hospital from an overdose that was ruled accidental.
A 26-year-old man, a 32-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man, who were all active duty members, died from natural causes.
Lake and McHenry County Scanner reached out to U.S. Navy officials regarding what steps, if any, they were taking to address the increase in deaths. They have not responded to the request for comment.