LaGrange Man Shot in Chicago Office Building

Caption: Steven LaVoie, of LaGrange, and Tony DeFrances, of Tower Lakes.

Updated at 5:35 p.m.

A Chicago CEO was shot Thursday morning at his downtown Chicago office, and the man who shot him — a friend and longtime colleague — then took his own life.

Steven LaVoie, 54, of LaGrange, CEO of ArrowStream, was shot by a despondent employee who recently learned he was being demoted, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

LaVoie was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital after the 10 a.m. shooting on the 17th floor of the Bank of America Building. Married and the father of three daughters, he was reportedly in critical condition and underwent surgery.

Chicago police identified the shooter as Anthony ”Tony” DeFrances, 60, who’d been with ArrowStream since 2001 and was a top executive in the company. DeFrances had requested a morning meeting with the CEO, according to Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy.

“Apparently he was despondent over the fact that he got demoted,” McCarthy told the Chicago Tribune. “It’s a workplace violence issue.

“He’s apparently a longtime employee. He comes in with a backpack like an employee normally does. . . This is a personal thing.”

DeFrances pulled a 9 mm handgun, police said. He and LaVoie struggled for the gun, according to witnesses and police, and LaVoie was shot in the head and stomach. Then DeFrances turned the gun on himself.

A Chicago Police source told the Tribune the two men had been friends for a long time. “They had been friends for years – a congenial relationship between two friends,” the source said.

When the incident took place, workers in the building were told by security not to leave their offices. Others in the financial district grew concerned as SWAT units, police and paramedics descended on the block.

Chicago Police notified LaGrange Police about the shooting.

“Anytime you hear about a shooting, it is very disturbing,” said LaGrange Police Chief Michael Holub. “It’s even worse when it happens close to home. We hope for the best for the family and him.”

LaVoie’s wife, Jody, went to the hospital. Tearful neighbors described LaVoie as a “great guy” and a “wonderful man.”

Prayers are being said Thursday at LaVoie’s church, the First Presbyterian Church in La Grange, the Rev. Ken Green told Sun-Times Media. 

LaVoie founded ArrowStream in 2000 but recently had been downsizing. DeFrances, who lived in northwest suburban Tower Lakes in Lake County, is listed on the company website as its chief technical officer. Prior to that, he founded and ran two software companies.

DeFrances was married with three adult children, two sons and a daughter. Neighbors told ABC 7 Chicago News they were shocked to hear that DeFrances had done such a thing.

“Everybody kind of knows everybody to some extent or another,” said neighbor Jim Olson. “I just can’t believe that it was Tony who was involved in this.”

They are a “wonderful family,” another neighbor, Pati Schaefer, told the Tribune. “We’re all heartbroken.”

ArrowStream released a statement Thursday afternoon.

“We are deeply saddened and shocked by the events that have occurred today. Our focus during this tragedy is to ensure the well-being of our ArrowStream family.”

video via Sun-Times YouTube channel