REVEALED: Illinois couple and their two sons who were shot dead along with their three dogs were TARGETED, cops say – as they hunt killer on the run

A couple and their two sons who were shot dead along with their three dogs at home in a quiet Illinois neighborhood were targeted, police have revealed.

Zoraida Bartolomei, 32, her husband Alberto Rolon and their children Adriel, 10, and Diego, seven, were shot Sunday in their family bungalow in the Chicago suburb of Romeoville.

Authorities have ruled out a murder-suicide and are looking for the killer who is still at large.

Their family said they have no idea why anyone would want to kill them, and Zoraida’s devastated sister has made a plea for answers.

But police have determined it was “not a random incident” and there is no reason for the public to stay indoors after the fatal shooting.

Police have determined it was ‘not a random incident’ and there is no reason for the public to remain indoors following the fatal shooting

Their family said they have no idea why anyone would want to kill them, and Zoraida’s devastated sister has issued a plea for answers.

“We were able to determine that this was not a random incident and that there was no need to have the shelter in place,” Romeoville Police Department Deputy Chief Chris Burne said Tuesday.

“This incident is the police’s top priority.” Officers were called to the family’s home on the 500 block of Concord Avenue for a welfare check.

One of the parents did not show up for work on Sunday and did not answer calls from relatives, raising concerns.

Police tragically discovered the dead bodies and believe the shooting took place between 9pm on Saturday and 5am on Sunday.

The Will County Major Crimes Task Force is helping investigators gather evidence and review video footage, Burne said.

“All officers and professional staff have worked tirelessly on this case. Our detectives and crime scene investigators have collected a tremendous amount of physical evidence over the past 36 hours.”

Zoraida’s sister Bryana Bartolomei shared a photo of the family, originally from Puerto Rico, on Facebook.

She wrote: “I want to know what happened to my cousins, my sister and her husband, and WHY?

“They were shot dead in their home.”

In the photo, Zoraida and Alberto can be seen beaming with their two sons, one of whom playfully holds a lock of his mother’s hair.

a fundraiser created to cover funeral costs was founded on Monday and describes their children as ‘the sweetest and innocent angels’. So far it has raised almost $20,000.

Friends describe them as “hard-working people who just bought their first house.”

“Their children were the sweetest and innocent angels who could take your worries away,” the fundraiser says.

Police tragically discovered the dead bodies following a welfare check and believe the shooting occurred between 9pm on Saturday and 5am on Sunday.

Zoraida’s mother Lydia, from Puerto Rico, previously told DailyMail.com that they were “so happy” and that they had just purchased their $250,000 home in Romeoville five months ago

A fundraiser was set up on Monday to help cover funeral costs and raise awareness of their cause, describing their children as ‘the sweetest and innocent angels’

‘In just a few hours, their lives, the lives of their families, changed completely. Without them the world will be a much bleaker place.”

Community members have provided information and evidence to help piece together what happened. Burne is calling for more help, including Ring doorbell footage.

Children Adriel and Diego attended RC Hill Elementary School, according to a release from district Superintendent Rachel Kinder.

She described their killings as a “senseless act of gun violence.”

“This violent incident and loss will certainly raise many emotions, concerns and questions throughout our school community.”

The school provides mental health care and counseling to families at the school.

Romeoville Mayor John D. Noak said Tuesday, “Our entire community joins the family in mourning this tragic incident.

“I have directed our social services staff to make themselves available to our community to help begin the healing process.”

Zoraida’s mother Lydia, from Puerto Rico, told DailyMail.com that they were “so happy” and had bought their $250,000 Romeoville home just five months ago.

She last spoke to her daughter shortly before her death over the weekend, as the family settled down to watch a movie, and she couldn’t understand why they were being targeted.

Crime scene technicians removed several brown and pink bags along with part of a window from the three-bedroom home as the investigation began on Sunday.