my daughter just called me. their school bus drove by when it happened. So they all saw it. This is so horrible.

This breaks my heart...so many affected by this...
Many are going through very tough times now...so very very sad.

Omg Linda, that's terrible!

It's probably some poor guy they gave multiple felonies for shoplifting.

Take a lesson kiddies - if you decide you can't handle the world anymore, just "off" yourself. No need to harm any innocent people.

Yes, mark they just hand out Felonies like candy, for no particular reason

Thank goodness he didn't shoot anyone else !!!

Have some respect. Prayers going out for his friends, family and soul.

Senior Taco & Holly Martin, what the hell kind of response is that? You are both mentally ill for stating such a horrible concept! Telling kids it's ok to take their own lives...obviously you have never lost someone to suicide. It is the hardest thing to live with, the survivors are the real victims. I will pray that some day you both get a heart and soul.

AH, I agree with you in principle in your replies to Senior Taco and Yorkvillian. This is a very serious and sad thing to happen. I'm very sorry for the man and his family and witnesses as well. I think they were comparing it to the Sandy Hook shooting, anything is better than that scenario.

Yorkville Mom, you could not have explained it any better. It's refreshing to know there are people out there who understand !

My heart goes out to the family.

This is devastating to hear, regardless of the mans' circumstances. I also am offended by the comments above they are sarcastic, rude, and insensative with regard to this. So sorry that those comments were even penned. Suicide is not a laughing matter.

There are things that one will always recall, no matter what one does to forget. Unfortunately these children came in contact with a situation as this, and I agree that their memory may suffer. I still recall when one of my best friends in high school attempted suicide. He did not have a gun, drugs, or alcohol - just a broken heart over a girl. He ran his car into a bridge and almost died. Today he is barely alive and in a catatonic state of being. I extend my prayers to the children who witnessed this tragedy, and also to the family of the man who may forever feel his loss. One might say he is a victim of the times, and so are they. At least he did not attempt to harm anyone else.

I was not meaning to be rude or insensitive...I just know with the people coming and going to and from the court house this could have been a much worse situation and thanking God that it wasn't.

How sad that he believed this was his only choice. Prayers to his family.

I pray for the officers and first responders that had to see this. I pray for his family and friends. I pray that those children did not see this. And I pray all of these suicides STOP. Simply breaks my heart. Now his family has to endure the pain he felt.

The world is made up of good people and bad people and thats displayed in these postings and life in general. Just choose your friends and beliefs wisely and everything will work out. Whats most important right now is for us to pray for his family. If you are considering suicide there are many people who can help. Go to any church and ask for help or call a suicide prevention hotline. 1-800-suicide or check online for other options.

I pray for his spirit that he goes straight to Heaven and that his family finds peace!! My mother passed away this past Saturday, I pray that she finds him and guides him to The Lord ,RIP Amen

Things are tough and to promote killing yourself is not acceptable shame on the people who raised you. !!!!!!!

Suicide is a simple action as easy as a trigger pull. If kids & Adults have suicidal thoughts then its a cry for help whether they seek that help to live thats there decision. Clearly this person had a plan and went forth with it. R.I.P to this individual and prayers to his family. I dont usually comment on these things but reading all your comments changed my mind. Senior Taco is not wrong for what he said he was just expressing his feelings on this topic. Theres several ways to look at suicide. . Some may say sucks but are glad theres one less troubled individual in the world, or perhaps omg its terrible, maybe glad the persons not suffering anymore, and more. Instead of bickering on how terrible how about you all look around you and hug your loved ones, be therr for your friends and family

I see that a couple of other folks have kind of mentioned this already but Kendall County prosecutors and judges have a reputation that trumping up charges and sending non-violent offenders to prison. I know for a fact that prison administrators in Illinois have been fed up for years with Kendall county. One prison warden has been known to say, "I've barely got enough room for baby rapists and grandmother murderers and these Kendall judges are sending me drunk drivers?"

I come from a family of 3 generations of law enforcement and I can assure you that a decent percentage of what Kendall prosecutes would be dismissed in Cook, Will and Dupage. Some hick prosecutor or judge with a HO for politics probably ruined this poor guy's life when all he needed was a good hard slap on the wrist.

Senior Taco, I understood what you meant by your statement of just "off yourself", indirectly you're telling individuals suicide is ok. First,it's illegal, 2nd, it is selfish and the survivors are the ones who suffer ,lastly, it is completely avoidable. Suicide is a cry for help, and when no one answers or cares, or has the attitude you implied, the person then decides "well I guess my life is not worth living!" My 19 year old daughter's college roomate has tried attempting suicide several times on campus, and MY daughter has been the one who has been there to pick up all the broken pieces. She is there for an education, not to be another student's psychiatrist, something she has no training in. Both of the girls were also witnesses of the random shooting in Brookfield, WI at the spa and shopping mall, and were on lockdown for hours. My daughter was also good friends with the 3 teenagers who lost their lives when they thought they could beat out a semi this summer in Oswego and we all know what happened there. Let's not send out messages of any sort that life is not worth living! There are way too many people dying and commiting suicide when there are so many others who care and will listen. Are we all too busy with our own lives, that we would let somebody take their own, because it's easier to ignore? Try living with that on your conscience the rest of YOUR life. Live each day to the fullest, love each day as it could be your last

Suicide is illegal huh..good luck citing the offenders...that is just silly to say. So is adultery..anyone given a ticket for that lately? The guy is dead, no one else is from his actions..nuff said.

This is another terrible tragedy. Whether it's one person or 100 ppl, young or old whatever the reason, there are family and friends affected. My many thoughts and prayers go out to them.....

Might be a good time to remind people of support services available. Suicide Prevention Services is one. If you need help, call. If you know someone who needs help, call. They also offer free depression screening. Counseling is available. Support groups for attempters and survivors meet twice a month. 800-273-8255 24/7/365.

Everyone, in regards to this man's friends and family let's please keep the comment stream on this article civil and not speculate on the why it happened or about the County or anything else. Those might all be interesting discussions, but I don't feel that this comment thread is the place to do so right now. Thank you.

Thoughts to his family and friends.

I would like to point out to the very many people who have commented, but have very clearly never had any experience with suicide, that it's not always as clear cut as you may think. In many cases suicide is a result of medications gone wrong. Sadly as it's too hard to monitor the side effects of such medications, especially during the early weeks of trial, suicidal thoughts can overcome a person almost forcing them to take their own life. It's important to remember that in such cases these are not the people we know and love. The medication has taken over and at times they are incapable of thinking rationally. It's tragic......suicide period is tragic, for anyone to feel so lost that ending their life is the only way out.......but maybe spare a thought for those trying to get better, agreeing to take meds to balance themselves and in the meantime having a reaction which results in a mental imbalance of the worst kind. Ever wondered why the commercials for such drugs have so many warnings?
It's disappointing to read so many judgmental comments. Perhaps if we were all a bit more empathetic life would be easier for everyone. Just a thought!

I got ya Sr Taco. ...one life is too many BUT if there is any positive to the situation it is that he did not walk into that courthouse and shoot it up taking other innocent lives along with him. Prayers go out to his family.

Senior taco
Suicide is not a decision something went wrong no doubt a person in their right mind wouldn't take their own life until you actually know someone's story I feel you have no room to speak I could give you an example of 2years of Hell and a suicide attempt but what good is that a person at their lowest point hitting rock bottom shouldn't be judged it's terrible that this man took his life I wish I was there to be able to speak to this man I am very compassionate and yes I would have attempted to speak with him gun or not it makes sense to me to offer friendship a listening ear I'm dedicated to helping people. For anyone fighting with thoughts of suicide stop and think of who you are hurting I know there are thoughts that everyone is better off without you but that's not true people who love you will be effected for the rest of their life by your actions lifeel gets hard but then we adapt.

The police need to stay out of our lives and focus on real criminals like murderers, molesters, rapists, and child abusers!!!

I agree Lysa when someone attempts suicide people say it's a cry for help that is somewhat true they are really down on their luck and have hit major depression and can't take no more when someone is like that they will not ask for the Help that they need because they feel like a burden to their friends and family, they believe suicide is the answer to their problems not a cry for help with that being said. My prayers go out to the family and friends of this man.

Obviously the individual very disturbed, and he didn't harm anyone else. Case closed.

Maureen, I am certainly not condoning suicide nor am I mentally ill. Unfortunately, this man felt he had no other options, I sincerely feel terrible for his family. However, as a mother, wife, daughter and sister, I feel so fortunate that I did not receive a phone call stating that a loved one was injured or killed. Out of all the shootings that have happened in the past, the gunmen kill themselves after their shooting spree. Again, just feeling so fortunate that he did not take this out on anybody else.

I think some of the above comments are completely disgusting. There are around 30,000 people that commit suicide each year. Obviously the man was going through very tough and trying times. Just because he is going through a hard time in life doesn't mean that he is going to injur others. Try saying about that for the 30,000 other auicide victims too. You guys obviously have had no experience with suicide and you need to be respectful to this mans family and friends. Think about how they would feel if they read your comments. My prayers go out to his family and friends who are no doubt in a lot if pain right now.

Kendall hands out felonies??

I've never been 'handed' a felony.. then again, I don't break the law.
LOL stop breaking the law then, criminals!

Mark, you know this how? Have you ever prosecuted someone in 'most counties?' Or have you ever been prosecuted in 'most counties?'

Look, I understand some people just need a break. But i find it preposterous that people point fingers at Kendall county's law enforcement and judicial system under the notion they 'hand out' felonies... YEAH! These people read articles on the patch and think they know what happened and circumstances behind the crime and the states attorney's decision to OK felony charges.

I don't even live in Kendall county. Why am I reading these bleeding heart comments?

My condolences go out to this man's surviving family and friends.

Kendall County does have a reputation for being strict on punishing criminals. Word gets around fast to the criminal element not to mess up in Kendall Co. Even misdemeanors are taken seriously. Look at Will Co. There are so many repeat offenders because of the minor consequences. I would you feel arresting a 30yr old person for shoplifting when they have 15 prior arrests and convictions with little to no jail time. Not in Kendall Co.

This man's identity hasn't been released, and the possible motive for his suicide may never be known. I don't know why he chose this particular spot, maybe it was at random. He may have been despondent over a recent divorce or custody case. I made an offhand remark that probably wasn't appriopriate considering so little information is available. I apologize for the wild speculation.

I wish ppl would stop coddling The youth of today. That might be a place to start. So many kids today think they have it so bad, rough. It's sad that they are this selfish, and Irresponsible.

Don't Judge a person when they feel the only way to stop the pain in there heart is to leave this place.Shame the Family that didn't see the warnin signs or don't bother to visit or call to even see if he is alive.No one should feel so lonely that the only way out of the pain and tears and emptiness is to die.

People don't take their own life to hurt others..They take there own life to stop the pain!

Don't you see yet that when a person came to that decision to leave this World and stop the pain and emptiness ...They are NOT going to call a
Hottline or Take a antidepressant Pill!

Don't you get it? When a person say's. It's. The Only Way to stop the Pain and from Being Lonely and feeling unloved...They made up their minds and they are NOT gonna call a Hot Line or take a antidepressant. Pill that has even more side effects to add to the pain!

I couldn't even read all these (mainly ignorant comments) This poor man, regardless of his criminal background, felt so alone he chose suicide feeling this was his only way to end his pain. Shame on all of you for passing judgment! I pray, through his death you can open your eyes, search your own soul and make it known to others you care and there is help. Thank God Yorkville now has a SPS ( Suicide Prevention Services ) Office that can help anyone who feels this alone. Shame on you Patch for allowing such bullying. These nasty comments need to be taken down with only a link to Suicide Prevention Services of America. Sir Taco you make me sick, I will pray for you, as well as all the other negative people on here

Wow.... How odd?

One dead in Phoenix office shooting - http://news.yahoo.com/police-1-dead-ariz-shooting-suspect-loose-234833738.html

I find it awfully interesting that this thread has become a place for people to pick apart others thoughts or opinions. Every one has a different life experience, and to belittle someone because they have not directly experienced suicide is sad, they still have an entitlement to their own feelings whether they have personally experienced the tragedy or not. To think that you know better than the next person because of what you have been through is one form of a closed mind, but to backfire and belittle them or their opinions is a whole different story. A little ironic considering the topic, eh? Suicide prevention is a wonderful thing and I give all of my respects to the workers behind the scenes. To blame someone's family, friends, etc. for the tragedy is just sad.. who's to say they didn't try their hardest to prevent it from happening? The blame can not automatically be pushed on the surrounding people in the individual's life, after all it does boil down to personal choice. May his family find peace in their time of sorrow, and may he fly freely in the afterlife riddened of his burdens.

I am not saying the man was a criminal (as a few people have said). I suspected he may have been aggressively prosecuted for something relatively minor and indeed he was.

It turns out the man was charged with 3 "crimes" about 2 years ago, all misdemeanors. I don't understand the charges, but it had to do with burying an animal on his property. Maybe his dog died or something. He also went through a very rough divorce a year ago.