Man shot and killed while playing Pokémon GO with 7-year-old daughter at park in Evanston

EVANSTON, Ill. (CBS) — A 29-year-old man was shot and killed in front of his 7-year-old daughter Thursday night in a park along the North Shore Channel in north suburban Evanston.

Police officers responding to a call of shots fired shortly after 9 p.m. in the park along McCormick Boulevard found Servando Hamros lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Hs family said he was playing Pokémon GO with his 7-year-old daughter, when they were confronted by several people who started shooting.

“I guess he had a confrontation with some other people that were here, and they killed him. My granddaughter FaceTimed us, saying, ‘Help me, daddy’s shot.’ In the park by herself, with her dad,” his mother said. “They executed him in front of her, and then they shot at her.”

Police said the shooters ran from the park after shooting Hamros. His daughter was not wounded.

“He ran the other side of the park exercising and we heard gunshots, and in my mother’s heart, I just knew. I just knew, and I ran as fast as I could,” his mother said as she broke down into sobs.

Evanston police Cmdr. Ryan Glew said officers were on patrol in the 2100 block of McCormick Boulevard at the time of the shooting and responded immediately when they heard the shots. There were also several 911 calls about the incident, Glew said.

Hamros was a father of two girls – ages 7 and 10.

Hamros’ parents live across the way and heard the gunshots ring out. They returned to the park Friday morning, with his mother falling to the ground in anguish in the rain.

They asked not to be identified, because they are concerned for their safety. They could not fathom their son would be on the receiving end of the gunfire they heard – but after their 7-year-old granddaughter FaceTimed them for help, they ran over.

“I even put candies in my granddaughter’s pocket for their little Pokémon adventure,” Hamros’ mother said. “Little did I know that I was across there listening to my son being murdered.”

While Hamros’ family has no idea why such a thing could happen, they do know one thing.

“These people need to be caught,” his mother said. “They need to be brought to justice.”

No one was in custody Friday afternoon. But Glew said police do not believe there is any current threat to the public.

Anyone with information is asked to call Evanston police at (847) 866-5040, or to text tips to 274637 (CRIMES), starting by entering “EPDTIP.”

Police did not take any questions during a news conference Friday afternoon about the deadly shooting.