Safety, Parenting on Readers' Minds in Murder Aftermath

Additional reporting by Paula Skaggs.

While Highland Park residents and officials don't seem to be feeling unsafe as a result of a Highland Park 20-year-old getting murdered last week in Highwood, many Patch readers are looking at the tragedy as a wake up call to pay more attention to the community's kids.

“This neighborhood is safe, it always has been," said Rick Lindstrom, whose father lives near Benjamin Schenk, a Highland Park 20-year-old charged with first degree murder for allegedly shooting 20-year-old Colin Nutter in the back of the head during a drug deal. "I’m not worried.”

Colin Nutter, a 20-year-old Highland Park resident who was found dead in Wilmette on Monday, died of a single gunshot wound to the back of the head, according to the Highland Park Police Department. 

According to Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim, the accused — Benjamin Schenk, 20, Philip Vatamaniuc, 17, and Michael Coffee, 17 — met with Nutter early on the day of June 3 to buy marijuana from him. All three suspects are Highland Park residents.

One Patch reader said that parents had turned a blind eye to signs of trouble in the community's children.

"Let us all take a closer look at our kids day to day lives activities and friends and involve ourselves with whomever our kids are involved as well," writes Local Resident. "My heart goes out to all of the families affected."

Another reader wondered if the country's drug laws were partially to blame for what happened.

"Anyone remember Al Capone? Prohibition?" writes Deerfield neighbor. "If marijuana were legal, this Nutter kid would probably be alive."

Not everyone bought the logic.

"If drugs were legal, we would lose and had lost many many more," writes Local Resident. "We are trying to save our kids and preserve a sense of morals and integrity for future generations."

Highland Park Police Chief Paul Shafer told the Highland Park News that the murder is "an anomaly."

“The statistics have been consistent through the years, both in numbers and the seriousness of the cases," he said. "There has been no spike.”

Bond has been set at $5 million for each of the three defendants. 

What was your reaction to the murder of Colin Nutter?