Sonny Ortiz dies after shooting, crash in River West

Sonny Ortiz has died after being shot multiple times then crashing an SUV early Thursday in the River West neighborhood.

Authorities said Ortiz was shot while inside a parked vehicle. After being shot, Ortiz attempted to drive away, but crashed into a parked vehicle and light pole in the nearby 1200 block of West Chicago Avenue about 12:20 a.m., authorities said.

Kris Bailey, 36, said he ran out of his nearby home when he heard the gunshots. Bailey said he saw a brown bumper on the ground and a light blue SUV speeding away.

Ortiz, 34, of the 3600 block of North Austin Avenue, was shot numerous times in his back and died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital less than an hour later, authorities said. An autopsy is scheduled for later Thursday.

Nobody has been charged for the murder.

Area Central detectives are investigating if the shooting was gang related.

— Sun-Times Media Wire

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