By JORDAN OWEN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire
Lamar Baker | Chicago Police
A man has been charged with killing 19-year-old David Martinez and wounding a teenage boy in a shooting a year and a half ago in the Southwest Side Little Village neighborhood.
Lamar Baker, 19, is charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, according to the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.
Just after 5 p.m. on Jan. 25, 2016, Baker and two men were driving in a vehicle in the 3000 block of South Kedvale when they passed by Martinez and a 17-year-old boy, prosecutors said.
Martinez and the teen recognized Baker and the two men as rival gang members, and the groups flashed gang signs at each other, prosecutors said.
Baker and the other two men drove around the block and into an alley, prosecutors said. Baker got out of the car, walked to the end of the alley and hid in some bushes.
As Martinez and the teen passed the mouth of the alley, Baker stood up and raised the firearm, and asked “what you on n****?” prosecutors said.
The victims turned to run and Baker fired shots, striking Martinez in the back of the head, prosecutors said. The 17-year-old boy looked back and saw his friend lying on the ground and bleeding, then ran toward a fire station.
As the teen ran, Baker fired several more times, striking him in the back, prosecutors said. The teen made it to the fire station and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where his condition was stabilized.
Martinez, who lived in Little Village, was pronounced dead at the scene at 5:14 p.m., authorities said.
In July 2016, Baker admitted to a police officer that he shot someone called “Casper” because he was a rival gang member, prosecutors said. “Casper” was Martinez’ nickname.
Baker was arrested June 19. In court on Tuesday, he was ordered held without bond.