Local News

Hundreds Mourn Death Of Chicago Police Officer

Weis: Robert Soto Did Not Die In Vain

CHICAGO (CBS) ― Chicago Police Supt. Jody Weis joined hundreds of mourners Tuesday to remember the life of an officer whose life was cut short by a bullet.

As CBS 2's Joanie Lum reports, authorities are also learning more about the suspect in the shooting death of Robert Soto, a veteran detective, and Kathryn Romberg, a supervisor for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. They were shot in the 3000 block of West Franklin Blvd. at about 1:30 a.m. last Wednesday.

A procession of police cars followed the hearse carrying Soto's body from the funeral home in Summit to the service here in Chicago.

Outside St. Francis of Assisi Church, uniformed police gathered to pay their respects, along with family and friends.

Soto was shot during an armed robbery. He was remembered for his devotion to protecting people.

"There's no way officer Soto lost his life in vain." Weis said. "Our city is safe and citizens protected."

Twenty-six-year old Jason Austin has been charged with two counts of murder and armed robbery in the shooting deaths of Soto and Romberg, who were shot while sitting in Soto's personal vehicle outside Romberg's Garfield Park apartment last week.

Investigators worked 'round the clock and members of the department have, in Weis's words, been in constant contact with Soto's family and close friends.

Chief of Detectives Thomas Byrne said robbery was the "sole motive" in the murders. "Somehow this robbery went obviously wrong," he said.

And Byrne says Soto's ability to talk to officers before he died makes their case even stronger.

"If we didn't have Det. Soto's own words, motive would've been open to speculation," Byrne said.

It's unclear what, if anything, was taken from Soto, whose wallet was on the floor of the SUV, police said. Credit cards were found in his wallet but no cash, they said.

Soto's cousin Mary Cantore was happy people remembered him "as a family man, friend, cousin. He was my cousin Bobby. He was a good man."

"He was the whole picture-- he wasn't just a police officer," said family friend Pat Gonzalez.

That he made a commitment to serve and protect certainly didn't go unnoticed.

"This is another officer who died in our city...and our policemen should be recognized for what they do defending our city," said Ald. James Balcer.

Because Soto's death was not in the line of duty, his was a private funeral, with honor and respect afforded someone who wore the badge.

In a statement his family said, "He's been given a higher rank with a higher title...guardian angel."

Soto was assigned to the Bomb and Arson section and had been a police officer 23 years. Romberg worked for DCFS for 13 years.

CBS 2's Joanie Lum and Kristyn Hartman contributed to this report.

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