WEEK IN REVIEW: Seven killed throughout Chicago

Michael Lansu — Mon, 20 Apr 2015 09:49:51 -0500

BY MICHAEL LANSU
Homicide Watch Chicago Editor

Seven people were killed throughout Chicago last week.

The victims included a 58-year-old woman who was found strangled, a 50-year-old restaurant owner and a downstate woman.

Five of the slayings happened over the weekend, when at least 30 others were wounded by gunfire.

The most recent killings happened when a 34-year-old woman and man in his 20s were fatally shot while walking in the 2700 block of North Lavergne Avenue in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood about 6:30 a.m. Sunday, police said. The Cook County medical examiner's office has not yet released their names.

In the Little Village community, police found 43-year-old Luis A. Perez shot in the head in the 2300 block of South Washtenaw Avenue about 5:20 a.m. Sunday, authorities said.

Perez, of the 2700 block of West 24th Street, was declared dead at the scene, according to the medical examiner's office.

On Saturday, 50-year-old Hermenegildo Vilchis was stabbed in the chest during an argument at his restaurant, El Taco Naco, in the 2600 block of West Chicago Avenue in West Town about 1 a.m., authorities said.

Vilchis, of the 3800 block of West Diversey Avenue, died at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center less than an hour later, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Anastacio Gonzales, 51, from the nearby 2600 block of West Rice Street, was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery, police said.

On Friday, 36-year-old Courtney Jackson was inside a car in the 1100 block of North Springfield Avenue in the Humboldt Park community when a gunman walked up and opened fire about 10:50 p.m., authorities said.

Jackson, of the 1400 block of North Lotus Avenue, was shot in the chest and died at Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center early Saturday, authorities said. A 35-year-old man in the car was also wounded, police said.

On Wednesday, police found a 58-year-old strangled in the 2500 block of West Moffat Street in Logan Square at 5:45 p.m., authorities said. The medical examiner's office has not yet released her name.

The killing started early Wednesday when when gunfire erupted about 1:50 a.m. in the 4500 block of North Broadway in Uptown. Jennifer Ponton, 24, was shot multiple times while riding in a passing vehicle.

Ponton, of the 1200 block of Madison Court in downstate Bradley, died hours later at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, according to the medical examiner’s office.

She was the 100th homicide in Chicago this year, according to the medical examiner's office.

In 2015, the medical examiner’s office has ruled at least 105 Chicago deaths a homicide, including one person fatally shot by police.

Anastacio Gonzales, 51, charged with murder in stabbing death of Hermenegildo Vilchis at West Town restaurant

Michael Lansu — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 12:20:50 -0500

Anastacio Gonzales / Photo from Chicago Police

A 51-year-old man has been charged with murder in the early Saturday stabbing death of a 50-year-old restaurant owner at his West Town eatery.

Anastacio Gonzales was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery for the attack at El Taco Naco at 2640 W. Chicago Ave., police said.

About 1 a.m. Saturday, Gonzales stabbed Hermenegildo Vilchis in the chest during an argument, authorities said.

Prosecutors said Gonzales did odd jobs around the restaurant and stabbed Vilchis in front of the restaurant owner's wife and 11-year-old daughter after Vilchis refused to hand over a basement key, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Vilchis, of the 3800 block of West Diversey Avenue, died at Presence Saints Mary and Elizabeth Medical Center less than an hour later, according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.

Vilchis owned El Taco Naco, according to public records.

Gonzales, of the 2600 block of West Rice Street, is scheduled to appear in court Sunday for a bond hearing.

-- Sun-Times Media Wire

Anastacio Gonzales | Homicide Watch Chicago

WEEK IN REVIEW: Seven killed throughout Chicago

Anastacio Gonzales, 51, charged with murder in stabbing death of Hermenegildo Vilchis at West Town restaurant