We take a look back at our stories and videos posed since Honeybee Killer Gary Amaya was gunned down at an Orland Park L.A. Tan. One of his victims got back on his feet, a former cop sued attorneys who wrongly accused him of Amaya's attacks and more.
After months of speculation, Gary L. Amaya, killed in December as he tried to rob an Orland Park tanning salon, was named the man behind the murder of an Indiana man in October.
In an announcement Tuesday, the Will County Sheriff's Office ended months of speculation by naming Gary Amaya, who was killed in December during an attempted robbery at an Orland Park tanning salon, as the "Honeybee Killer." The office named Amaya, 48, of Rankin, as the murderer of Rolando Alonzo, 45, of Hammond, IN, and the man who shot and robbed Lowell, IN, farmer Keith Dahl, both on Oct. 5. Alonzo was killed as he and two co-workers were at a job site in Will County. Dahl was shot in rural Lake County, IN. Dubbed the "honeybee killer" because he asked at least three people about honeybees before firing on them, the gunman was hunted throughout the south suburbs and Indiana without success. On Dec. 11, Amaya entered an Orland Park L.A…
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As 2011 gets under way, we take a look at our five favorite videos and runners up.
In only three and a half months Orland Park Patch has documented more than 450 stories involving heart, heroics and genuine tomfoolery. However you classify these stories, one thing is certain. Many of them were captured on video—by us or through surveillance—and posted with the goal of bringing unfiltered events to your eyes. As a stakeholder in your community, don't hesitate to send us your own footage of newsworthy public events. We've learned a lot in this short period and hope you have, too. Before you embark on a new year, take a look back at what you might have missed and what's ahead. Here's looking at you, Orland Park. Literally. L.A. Tan 911 call On Dec. 11, Gary Amaya walked into the Orland Park L.A. Tan with what appeared …
Orland Park Patch looks back on our first three months of life, and offers our pick for top stories, based on page views, comments and feedback from readers.
A lot can happen in a few months. Orland Park Patch started with 14 articles. Today, there are more than 450 stories detailing a myriad of events, topics and issues that we believe are important to residents and readers. We take a look back at the most poignant stories we have covered, as we look forward to continuing on into 2011 and beyond. Remember, we're only getting started. Jason McDaniel had a few seconds to make the decision. He stood behind the desk at L.A. Tan on 94th Avenue, the salon clerk sitting next to him with her arms and legs tied, as Gary Amaya bent over and took his hand off a revolver. McDaniel lunged at Amaya, took the gun and fired, leaving Amaya dead within an hour from the gunshot wound. McDaniel said he could see…
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We look back at a pre-holiday week of further L.A. Tan revelations, sports triumphs, holiday cheer and a bit of crime.
Jason McDaniel said he and the clerk at L.A. Tan made a good team. During an interview with Patch, McDaniel was appreciative of the praise he's received, after thwarting an armed Gary Amaya. But McDaniel also pointed out that the young clerk wasted no time calling police, as McDaniel knocked Amaya down pointed with the same gun intended for the supposed robbery. Just a few days after the incident, L.A. Tan on 94th Avenue opened back up for business. In sports, the Sandburg Eagles wrestling team held strong on the mat against district rival Stagg, stretching their winning streak to 12. Sandburg girls basketball pushed their zone defense to win against Lemont. And Lukas Verzbicas won our first ever Fall Athlete of the Year after a stellar …
WARNING-GRAPHIC CONTENT: The 911 call from a female clerk at L.A. Tan made just after Jason McDaniel took the gun from Gary Amaya.
Orland Park police on Friday released a recording of the 911 call made by a clerk at L.A. Tan just after Jason McDaniel thwarted an armed Gary Amaya. McDaniel can be heard firing the gun at Amaya after the assailant moved toward him. Amaya said he was there to rob the salon, and ordered the clerk to tie herself. McDaniel arrived for an appointment minutes later and was told to do the same, but McDaniel rushed Amaya when he bent over to pick up an item. Amaya later died from the wound. Police later determined the Colt .38 Special revolver found at L.A. Tan was the same weapon used in the "honeybee" shootings, where one man died and two others were injured in October. Amaya's vehicle, found in a nearby parking lot, also matches descriptions …
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5:04 pm on Saturday, December 25, 2010
I get tears in my eyes just from hearing that young woman's terror. Jason McDaniel saved her, the other customer and himself from a horrible fate. The good guys won, and I hope for healing for the survivors. more ›
Patch spoke with McDaniel about what was not seen in the surveillance footage of Gary Amaya threatening both him and a clerk with a gun at L.A. Tan, and life since the conflict.
Jason McDaniel wasn't going to wait for Gary Amaya to decide whether he lived or died. The 29-year-old car salesman at Orland Park Nissan said that he is not the type of person who will tie himself up, even when a gun is pointed at him. On Dec. 11, McDaniel walked into L.A. Tan at 15633 S 94th Ave to find a female clerk bound with rope, and Amaya pointing a revolver at him. Less than 10 minutes later, McDaniel rushed Amaya, took the gun from him and fired. Amaya would die from the wound within the hour. Police would begin building possible connections between Amaya and the 'honeybee' shooter, who was responsible for a shooting spree in October. During an interview with Patch, McDaniel spoke about spending time with his daughter and wife …
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4:41 pm on Saturday, December 25, 2010
Jason you are a man with total integrity! Please contact me, as to reach out to that young woman! It's best for her to keep anonymous, but needs a direct channel! God Bless you and your family! more ›
The tanning salon's management said owners have installed new surveillance cameras and panic buttons to make staff and customers feel safe.
L.A. Tan reopened its doors last Wednesday, only four days after an armed robber who could be connected to a murder and other shootings was thwarted by a dexterous customer. Assistant manager Danielle McKeown said the tanning salon's owners have beefed up security systems to make the "shaken-up" staff feel more comfortable as they put the attack behind them. "We got new cameras, we got new panic buttons," she said. "We're feeling a lot more safe now than we did before." Rankin resident Gary Amaya walked into the Orland Park L.A. Tan on Dec. 11, pulled out a handgun and calmly announced he was robbing the salon. In surveillance footage, a young female clerk behind the counter can be seen reaching for a phone but stopping as she'd …
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Between Jason McDaniel stopping Gary Amaya from possibly hurting him and two women at L.A. Tan, and Orland Park police seizing $22,000 worth of sexually provocative merchandise from Spencer’s Gifts, we look back on 10 wild days in Orland.
Gary Amaya said he was at L.A. Tan to rob the place, but signs pointed otherwise. He fired a gun at a woman who ran from him after he tried to handcuff her the morning before he came to Orland Park. While pointing the same Colt .38 Special revolver at a clerk at L.A. Tan, he said he would "make it comfortable" for her and ordered her to tie her hands and legs. Jason McDaniel walked in the door less than a minute after the ropes were tied. Amaya aimed the gun at the 29-year-old father and told him to tie himself as well. But when Amaya put the pistol down on a counter, and bent over to pick up an item that dropped, McDaniel charged him. A few minutes later, Amaya was dead, shot by the same gun he brought to Orland Park. Shortly thereafter…
4:23 am on Monday, December 20, 2010
The MS criminal justice program has been a true blessing to me and assisted me with a better understanding of the fundamental basis and objectives of criminal justice systems. Search the internet "United Forensic College" more ›
Ballistics on the gun used in the foiled L.A. Tan robbery match those in the "honeybee" case. And a witness says Gary Amaya is the man who shot at him.
More signs point toward foiled L.A. Tan robber Gary Amaya as the man responsible for an October shooting spree, but investigators are still reviewing evidence before making a final call. The gun used by Amaya while trying to rob an Orland Park tanning salon last weekend matched the weapon used in the "honeybee" attacks, Will County Sheriff Paul Kaupas said Thursday. "The weapon, projectiles from Lake County, Will County and Orland Park were then prepared by the lab," Kaupas said. "The projectiles were all found to come from the same weapon, the Colt .38 Special found at (L.A. Tan)." The "honeybee killer" is responsible for three attacks in October that left one man dead and two others injured. Dubbed the "honeybee killer" because he asked …
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1:20 am on Monday, December 20, 2010
After seeing Amaya’s picture, I can see how people could have thought that Brian Dorian was the killer, especially if you put a baseball cap on his head. I’m just glad that the real “honeybee killer” is dead and that Dorian’s name can be cleared. A lot of people in NE Illinois and NW Indiana were living in fear knowing that a random killer was on the loose. Jason McDaniel is a true hero. more ›
Pam
2:30 pm on Saturday, September 10, 2011
O.K. since we're bringing up the past let's not forget what happen to 5 women at Lane Bryant a few years back, 5 women were murdered in Tinley Park just a few miles away from Orland Mall. more ›