Man Fatally Shot 'Woman He Loved' On I-90 Ramp: Police

COOK COUNTY, IL — A 50-year-old Barrington man is behind bars after admitting to fatally shooting his girlfriend during the early morning hours of New Year's Day, police said. Authorities say John H. Breseman shot 54-year-old Christina Czuj, a passenger in his car, on the westbound Interstate 90 at Barrington Road off ramp early Friday.

Breseman, the driver of the vehicle, placed an emergency call at 1:34 a.m. and admitted to shooting Czuj of Sleepy Hollow, police said.

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Breseman is charged with first-degree murder and is being held at the Cook County Jail, according to a news release from the Illinois State Police. A Cook County judge denied bond during a hearing Sunday.

Breseman, who owns all or a majority of a residential and commercial carpentry firm, called one of his two adult children following the shooting, stating Czuj attacked him, and he acted in self-defense, according to the Daily Herald. Police did not find any marks or bruises on Breseman's body, and he told authorities he shot his girlfriend on the off ramp while the car was still moving.

Assistant Cook County State's Attorney Margaret Johnson said Breseman told police "self-defense or not, I (messed) up. I killed the woman I loved," according to the newspaper.

This is a developing story. Patch will update with more details as they become available.