BY RUMMANA HUSSAIN
Chicago Sun-Times
Even after Jimero Starling told a group Latin Kings that he also was in their gang, they still killed him, Cook County prosecutors said.
Starling and his pals were riding their bicycles west on Division Street between Kedzie and Spaulding avenues after leaving a friend’s party early Wednesday morning when Randy “Garfield” Ruiz, Jeremy Medina and three others allegedly started shouting gang slogans and questioned them about their gang affiliation.
Starling, 19, tried explaining that he was a Latin King as well but the other group kept harassing them, Assistant State’s Attorney Robert Mack said.
At some point, one of the purported Latin Kings punched one of Starling’s friends, Mack said. As another person from Starling’s group tried to move the victim who was hit across the street and seek help, Ruiz, 18, pointed his gun at them and continued shouting gang slogans, Mack said.
Ruiz, Medina and the others chased Starling and his friends as they ran west on Division and eventually Medina and another person caught up with Starling and started punching him, Mack said.
Ruiz then allegedly ran up to Starling and shot him in the head before fleeing south on Spaulding with the others.
Jeremy Medina / Photo from Chicago Police
Witnesses identified both Ruiz and Medina and surveillance camera captured the shooting from across the street, Mack said.
Ruiz, of the 3200 block of West Cortez Street, was ordered held without bail Thursday.
Judge Laura Sullivan ordered Medina, 20, of the 1100 block of North Lawler Avenue, held in lieu of $750,000 bond.