By John Carpenter and Rummana Hussain
A Logan Square man was ordered held without bond Thursday for the April 13 shooting death of 19-year-old Jonathan Santiago, killed in the 3300 block of W. Beach Ave.
Lord Byron Mancilla, 22, was arrested Tuesday, after police said two witnesses identified him, and a gun he allegedly gave an associate was recovered in the possession of a gang member and matched the bullet found in the victim.
Assistant Cook County State’s Attorney Christy Brewer also said Mancilla’s cell phone records indicated he was in the area at the time of the murder, and he allegedly admitted his role in the shooting to a third party.
But Assistant Cook County Public Defender Marijane Placek said Mancilla, who lives in the 3800 block of West Wellington, was at work at the time of the shooting. He works for a company called Molly’s Cupcakes, she said.
Judge Adam Bourgeois Jr. ordered Mancilla held without bond.
Brewer said that at about 2:45 a.m. April 13, Santiago and two friends were sitting in a car smoking when several cars they thought looked suspicious passed by. Deciding they’d be safer indoors, they started walking towards one of their homes. Mancilla and another man allegedly stepped out of a gangway and confronted them.
“What’s up b–-?” Mancilla allegedly said as he started shooting, running at Santiago and his friends.
Santiago collapsed in the street, and was taken to the hospital by his two friends. He died of multiple gunshot wounds.
Brewer said Mancilla gave the gun to an individual so that person could hide it, and that “another gang member was subsequently arrested with the gun.” Mancilla was arrested Tuesday, and allegedly identified in a line-up by the two men who were with Santiago when he was shot.
Rosa Gonzalez, Santiago’s mother, said she is relieved someone has been arrested. But she doesn’t expect to ever find complete comfort.
“I’m happy that justice exists in this world, and that Jonathan is going to get it,” she said. “But, at the end of the day, how do you find justice for taking a life, and for changing and destroying so many other lives? My son is gone forever. How do you find justice for forever? I don’t know.”