The man accused of shooting an Orthodox Jewish man in a targeted attack before firing on responding police and paramedics died in custody Saturday afternoon, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office said.
Sidi Mohamed Abdallahi, 22, an immigrant from Mauritania, died at Cook County Jail’s holding facility at 2700 S. California Ave. on Saturday, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Sheriff’s staff were conducting routine security checks in Cermak Health Services — where Abdallahi was being held — at 3:30 p.m. and discovered Abdallahi unresponsive in an “apparent suicide attempt by hanging” in his cell, according to the Cook County Sheriff’s Office. He was taken to Mt. Sinai Hospital, where he later died. Sheriff’s officials said no foul play was suspected.
The Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force is conducting an independent investigation, according to the sheriff’s office.
Prosecutors say Abdallahi mapped the locations of several Chicago synagogues and Jewish schools in the days leading up to an attack in the North Side’s West Ridge neighborhood where he shot an Orthodox Jewish man and fired at police and paramedics on Oct. 26.
He had also been facing charges of attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm at a peace officer or firefighter, aggravated discharge of a firearm and terrorism.